A STUDENT nurse from North Petherton is climbing the highest mountain in Africa for the Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF).

Zoe Pike, 20, who starred as the title character in Bridgwater Pantomime Society's 60th anniversary of Cinderella, will be taking on the six day trek in September this year.

“Meningitis and septicaemia is most common in babies, toddlers and young adults," she said.

"University students like myself are particularly at risk. It can strike quickly and about ten per cent of people don’t survive it.

"Some people who do survive it can be left with long term after-effects from deafness or brain damage to loss of limbs.

"This is why I’m passionate about raising awareness of the disease and raising funds that will help MRF in their fight for a world free from meningitis and septicaemia."

Zoe said her target is to raise £3,000 and she is already just over halfway to her target. You can sponsor her by going to her online fundraising page bit.ly/ZoePike.

“I wanted a challenge which would really push me to the limit. Climbing Kilimanjaro is not only a physically difficult challenge but also mentally draining and it will take everything I have in order to reach the top."

Vinny Smith, chief executive of MRF said: “We are grateful to Zoe for taking on this huge challenge to help raise funds for MRF.

"The money raised will allow us to fund vital scientific research into the prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis, raise awareness of the disease and support those affected.

“We’re urging all young people in their first year at university to get the free MenACWY vaccine from their GP. This will not only help protect them from four types of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia but also protect others by stopping the spread.”