Despite facing serious back surgery for a very painful spine condition only days later, fourteen-year-old Emma Welch, from Chilcompton, is determined to complete her challenge to host the world's largest Teddy Bear's Picnic on a mountain summit, Mount Snowdon – and you can be part of it.

Emma will be setting off on Saturday, 30th May, but on 3rd June, she will be undergoing surgery for scoliosis at Bristol Children's Hospital. She will be unable to do anything for several months afterwards, so the race is on to complete her World Record.

She says: "I am doing this to raise awareness of brain tumours – the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of forty. My Church Minister, Andrew Stammers, was diagnosed with a brain tumour and has three daughters. I was amazed to find out that brain tumours receive just 1% of national cancer research spending. It's unacceptable!"

Emma is appealing to readers to donate teddy bears and also for volunteers to carry the teddies up the mountain in rucksacks (or take them up on the train), as well as for sponsors to help raise as much as possible for Brain Tumour Research by donating to https://www.justgiving.com/Emma-Welch5/">https://www.justgiving.com/Emma-Welch5/ in order to find more effective treatments and ultimately, a cure. If you can help on the 30th May, please email: [email protected]">[email protected] She is hoping to raise £5,000.

Emma is not new to taking on big challenges in order to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research, having attracted a wide range of media attention in 2013, when she climbed the height of Everest on an indoor climbing wall at Writhlington Sports Centre, (having already been diagnosed with scoliosis). Last year, Emma cycled 1,000 miles for the charity, (which, with her condition, became increasingly painful).

Andrew Stammers has been speaking about Emma's efforts. He said: "Emma is a great source of encouragement to me. She is climbing her mountain, which is encouraging me to climb mine. Having a brain tumour is pretty hard. It was diagnosed as a grade three and that really plays with your mind. I can get quite depressed at times, so what Emma is doing is really uplifting."

For more details and to read Emma's blogs, visit: http://www.emmawelch.co.uk">www.emmawelch.co.uk