A BLACKAWTON woman has discovered a novel way to raise funds for her favourite charity – and see a bit of the world as well!

Liz Yunnie (pictured right) is off to Nepal to help with the seventh Everest Marathon. She will not be running herself, but as a trained nurse she is sure her skills will come in useful along the way.

Mrs Yunnie will join a team of eight doctors and nurses who will support the 65 runners of the marathon.

Her four-week trip starts on March 20 and will lead her to a 17 day trek to the Everest base camp.

The trip has been a dream ever since her brother-in-law ran the first marathon. The race is run every other year, usually in November, but, because of the millennium,it was decided to run it in March this year.

She has paid the £2,200 cost of the trip, plus the £400 plus it cost to purchase the proper clothing, herself.

Mrs Yunnie works as a manager at Bigbury Court Farmhouse, a residential home for adults with learning difficulties.

All the cash she raises from sponsorship, including what she hopes to get from coffee mornings at home, will be split equally between South Hams Mencap and Nepalese charities.

Nepal is among the five poorest countries in the world. Rugged mountains cover 85 per cent of the land and the country is virtually roadless.

The average annual income is only £125 and many areas lack basic facilities, such as clean water, elementary education and medical facilities.

Mrs Yunnie said: 'I had to see it for myself. I had to apply for my place and I think that being a nurse helped me.

'I am sure a lot of people would like to go but don't know about it.'

After the marathon she will stay on for a short holiday and visit the Chitwan game reserve.

'I hope to see tigers, elephants and rhinos,' said Mrs Yunnie.