A FORMER cancer sufferer and her friend are preparing to trek along the highlands of North Vietnam for Claire House Hospice and need your help.

Helen Stewart from Meols was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and is currently receiving treatment. Together with Irby-based Sue Hardy they will fly to Hanoi in February. The duo each need to raise £3,200 for the trip.

While there, they will be crossing valleys and rivers, follow winding trails through terraced rice paddies and lush green jungle to remote hill tribe villages, well off the beaten track and experience a privileged chance to meet and stay with the people of the Northern hill tribes. They will be travelling for five days over rough terrain for five to six hours each day.

Accompanying them will be Sue's sister and brother-in-law, Gaynor and Rob Mellor.

All proceeds will go to the Clatterbridge-based hospice.

Looking ahead to the trek Helen, 57, told the Globe: "Claire House is a cause very close to my heart.

"Although I've never been a resident at the hospice, every child with a life-threatening illness needs our support. We want to do everything we can to help."

The climate of Vietnam is quite a diverse one, in February temperatures are cooler around 20 degrees C with less chance of rain, but mountain regions can expect occasional snowfall.

The monsoon season begins in May to September when temperatures can reach 35 degrees C but with heavy rain measuring as much as 323mm in some areas.

In order to prepare for the trek, the group has begun its training by trekking up Moel Famau in North Wales on occasional weekends to eventually tackle something more challenging in the Snowdonia range of mountains.

Helen said: "We only decided to do the trek in February, but so far I think our training efforts have paid off.

"We're looking forward to doing it. It’s going to be a great challenge.

"I have not done this before, but Sue’s done a few things like this.

"You have to be moderately fit for the trip and I feel fitter than ever.”

To help boost funds for the hospice, a number of fundraising events have been planned, including bag packs at their local supermarkets.

If you would like to help the duo with their fundraising for the trip, email helen.brick1@virgin.net