Three nurses are going on the adventure of a lifetime trekking along one of the Seven Wonders of the World to raise money.

Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice staff Cath Shatford, Bex Pearce and Heather Mitchell are swapping their nursing uniforms for sportswear and walking boots to take on a Great Wall of China trek in October.

The nine-day trek will see them travel to Beijing and hike through woodland and farmland as well as follow the contours of hills and mountains.

They will walk sections of the spectacular Great Wall, which stretches 6,000km in a dotted line and dates back to the 5th century BC.

One highlight of the trek is climbing ‘Heaven’s Ladder’ – a steep climb of over 200 steps leading up a cliff edge.

The colleagues are part of Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court’s Hospice at Home team and care for people at the end of their lives in their own homes.

Taking on the Great Wall of China challenge was the idea of senior nursing assistant Cath, who enlisted her colleagues to sign up with her. Together, they will raise vital funds for the hospice.

Heather, a bank registered nurse, said: “No matter how hard the trek is going to get, it will pale into insignificance in comparison to what our patients and their families are going through.

“I know what will motivate us and keep us going – apart from our wicked sense of humour – will be the memories of all those people we have cared for, and all the people we have not met yet but we will be able to meet in the future because of the money that is raised.”

Cath added: “We will be able to draw strength from each other when times get tough on the trek. With each other, we will smash it!”

Nursing assistant Bex, who joined the hospice last year, said: “I think it was only my second shift with Cath and I was talked into this challenge! It is for a great cause and we hope to raise lots of money for our beautiful and vitally important hospice.”

Emma Wright, Clinical Lead of the Hospice at Home team at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice said: “Our Hospice at Home team always go above and beyond. Cath, Bex and Heather taking on this challenge is testament to their passion and dedication to the families they help to care for.”

Find out more about the Great Wall of China trek and sign up at: www.sueryder.org/support-us/fundraise/events/great-wall-of-china-trek-2020