EVER fancied taking a hike and raising some money for charity?Here's your chance as Ipswich-based charity Disability Care Enterprise (DCE) is organising an exciting trek up one of the world's most enchanting mountains.

By Nick Richards

EVER fancied taking a hike and raising some money for charity?

Here's your chance as Ipswich-based charity Disability Care Enterprise (DCE) is organising an exciting trek up one of the world's most enchanting mountains.

Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the highest mountain in Africa.

It is also the destination for a ten-day trek, which will aim to raise £30,000 for Suffolk children with disabilities.

Hikers will be asked to contribute £250 themselves towards flights and accommodation and to raise a total of £2,500 each in sponsorship.

The trek will take place between June 27 and July 6, 2003. Places on the trip are limited to just 20.

Home for the 33km trek will be in mud huts and a doctor will be taken on the trek as a precaution.

Carolyne Morey of DCE said the Kilimanjaro trek was a chance to see one of the most beautiful sights in the world.

She said: "The surrounding countryside is very pretty and on the last day the hikers get up at 1am to watch the sun rise – so remember to take your camera!

"The walk is one of the highlights of the year for us, along with the Evening Star Press Ball. If it wasn't for either of these two events, we couldn't do our job."

Previous DCE treks have taken place in the Himalayas – and next year's expedition promises to be just as interesting.

The first three days will be spent travelling and acclimatising. On day four, there will be a four-kilometre trek and on the fifth day, a six-kilometre trek.

Day six is set aside as a rest day, before the remainder of the 33km course is completed across such varying terrain as rainforest, moorland and glacial cover.

Fitness assessments are undertaken in the lead-up to the trek and training is given to help build up fitness before heading to Africa.

n Any potential adventurers can find out more on April 8, when DCE will be at the Next Generation gym at Ransomes Europark at 7.30pm. Please call Carolyne Morey on 01473 274565 to register your interest before the meeting.

n The Evening Star Press Ball has raised more than £100,000 for DCE over the years. This year's event will be held at the County Hotel, Copdock on June 28.