A MOTHER will be trekking 100 miles in just eight days across eastern Africa next month to raise money for Farleigh Hospice. Anne Goode, 53, of Frenches Green, Felsted, admitted she only decided to take up the Malawi trek after attending one of the hospi

A MOTHER will be trekking 100 miles in just eight days across eastern Africa next month to raise money for Farleigh Hospice.

Anne Goode, 53, of Frenches Green, Felsted, admitted she only decided

to take up the Malawi trek after attending one of the hospice's fund-raising events and consuming a couple of glasses of wine.

"I was at one of their fund-raising functions at The Waterfront in Chelmsford with some friends who have gone on fund-raising trips for them," explained Mrs Goode.

"We were having a couple of glasses of wine when Debbie Bolts, one of their senior fund-raisers came up and asked if I fancied raising some money for them.

"My friends seemed to have had so much fun when they'd done it I couldn't help but say yes."

Mrs Goode, a secretary at Felsted Surgery, is raising money for Farleigh Hospice because now that it is situated next door to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford it is the nearest hospice to her.

She needs to raise a minimum of £2500 to be able to go on the trip, but is hoping to raise a lot more than that pointing out that the hospice costs £7000 per day to run and only gets a third of this amount from the local health authority.

There are 25 people taking part in the trek that will cover 100 miles in eight days, stopping off en-route to

see work being carried out at an orphanage and also travelling by canoe and bicycle to visit villages.

The group leaves from Heathrow Airport on October 1 landing in Nairobi where they get a connecting flight to Blan Tyre where they will be met by their guides.

"I'm really looking forward to the trip. I am a bit nervous as I have never done anything like this before but it's going to be a marvellous experience," said Mrs Goode.

She added: "My husband Gez, son Christopher and daughter Stacey have all been very supportive.

"Stacey has been helping me with my training."

To prepare for the miles ahead, Anne has been going to the gym four times a week and taking her dogs on long walks along the Flitch Way.

She was already an active person but said she needed to build up the stamina required to cover up to 15 miles a day.

With little more than three weeks to go before the big off, Mrs Goode has been getting up to speed with all of the equipment and clothing she needs to take with her.

"Jacks of Dunmow in North Street have been really good to me and have supplied all my clothing and my rucksack as well as giving me lots of advice," said Mrs Goode.

"And Jane Taylor and her staff at Taylor's Car Care Centre, Dunmow have been helping me raise money as well as sponsoring me. I'd like to say a big thank you to them as well as everyone else who has donated money."

Mrs Goode is holding one final fund-raiser before she leaves at the Rah Mahal restaurant on Braintree Road in Felsted on September 25.

Anyone wishing to attend the meal or support Anne to reach her fund-raising goal can call her on 01371 821484.