A HEXHAM student is preparing herself for a challenging trek 6,000 metres above sea level.

Layla Zahawi (20), pictured, a history student at University College London, will trek Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for charity Hope for Children.

The former Queen Elizabeth High School pupil will be among a group of 30 tackling a challenging route on the mountain, climbing up to 5,895 metres and battling sub zero temperatures and very thin air.

The challenge will take six days to complete, and Layla will spend a total of 11 days in Tanzania.

She said: “I have always wanted to do something of this magnitude and it has been on my bucket list, but I never thought I would ever do it.

“I took a gap year last year, but it was a very lazy one and I didn’t do much.

“So to compensate, I’m going to do something immense, so I’m definitely looking forward to it.”

While the challenge is not until August, Layla has to meet a fund-raising deadline by January.

People can make donations to help Layla on her way at ucl2016.everydayhero.com/uk/layla.