A DAREDEVIL woman, who has been inspired by a toddler’s plight, is gearing up to scale Africa's highest mountain in a bid to raise £5,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Tanya Wells, of Kempshott Park, Beggarwood, Basingstoke, will be stepping up to the epic charity challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, in Northeast Tanzania, in September.

The 33-year-old was inspired by 10-month-old Anna Marke, who has cystic fibrosis and is the daughter of her friend Rachel Marke.

During the trip, Tanya will spend six days on the mountain in what will be an extreme and physically demanding trek. She said: “I have always wanted to do a challenge like this and the cystic fibrosis cause is close to my heart.”

Little Anna was thought to be a healthy baby at first. But soon after she was born, it became apparent that she was not feeding well. Tests at Basingstoke hospital subsequently found she had cystic fibrosis.

Both Rachel and her husband Paul, 37, of Pendennis Close, in Winklebury, Basingstoke, both have the faulty gene that led to Anna’s cystic fibrosis. Rachel said: “I was stunned – it was a bolt out of the blue.”

The condition means that Anna has regular physiotherapy to clear thick, sticky mucus from her lungs and because of digestive problems has to eat a high-calorie diet with enzyme pills.

The hardest part for the 31-year-old mum was learning of the life expectancy of cystic fibrosis suffers, which is about 35.

But she is hopeful that future advancements in treatments could mean babies born now might expect to live even longer.

In preparation, Tanya has climbed Mount Snowdown and is planning more mountain hikes in the run up to the challenge. If you would like to sponsor Tanya, visit justgiving.com/tanyawells33.