Twenty-five-year-old Kate Smith, from Mells, will be setting off on an adventure on Monday – to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, scaling the iconic mountain to mark ten years since her father, Nigel Smith, passed away from cancer. Ms Smith is flying to Africa on October 10th after months of fundraising for her two chosen charities.

She will be raising money for the Forever Friends Appeal at Bath’s RUH, which is currently fundraising for a state-of-the-art new Cancer Centre.

The Royal United Hospital’s new Cancer Centre will be an amazing new facility that will replace the ward where Kate’s father received his treatment. The building will provide patients and families across the south west with a holistic, healing environment dedicated to making such a difficult time more manageable.

The other cause, ‘Get Kids Going’, offers young, disabled people the chance to become more involved in sport. Ms Smith’s father, Nigel Smith, was a supporter of the charity himself. A P.E teacher at Clarendon School in Trowbridge for 27 years, Nigel was well known for his passion for getting children to be active. He led local children on Ten Torrs expeditions, and many school trips, such as skiing and kayaking.

Nigel Smith was diagnosed with renal cancer in June 2006, and eight weeks later, he lost his short battle and passed away.

“It was a huge shock that such a fierce illness was found in such a fit man,” says Kate. “I was just fifteen-years-old and believed that he was invincible. My dad was the bravest man I’ve ever known, and I’m trying to do something that would make him proud.”

Kate would like to thank Radstock-based Archers Marquees for their sponsorship, as well as Aston Rose Surveyors, Wessex Drain Services Ltd., and Kushi Clothing. If any readers are interested in donating you can do so via Kate’s Facebook page:www.facebook.com/katesmithclimbingkilimanjaro or GoFundMe Page: www.gofundme.com/29fktsf6