Two Merseyside sisters have trekked to the summit of Machu Picchu in Peru, raising over £3,000 for charity in the process.
Alison Martin, 37, from Hoylake and her sister Rebecca Woodhouse, 34, joined a group of 15 other members in the climb, raising money for NSPCC and Childline in Merseyside.
The challenge meant the group had to deal with high altitude and wild camping during their ten day adventure, which was made that bit tougher after Alison lost her luggage on the way out to Peru.
Alison told JMU Journalism: “We funded the trip ourselves at £2,400 each, so all the money we raised would go to our chosen charity.
“The great thing about the NSPCC ad Childline is that all money raised stays in the area it is raised in and doesn’t get swallowed up in to a big pot in London. This means all the money I raised stays in Merseyside supporting vulnerable children.”
The trek had been one that Alison had dreamt of completing since a young age and she finally had the chance to do it when a company called Charity Challenge offered her the opportunity.
The trip took an alternative route to the popular Inca trail and supported local communities in the surrounding area to Machu Picchu.
The climb was made that extra bit special as it was the first one she had completed with her sister.
Alison, who celebrated her birthday on the trip, said: “There are many moments on the trip that I will treasure but the moment when Rebecca and I made it to the Sun Gate and had our first glimpses of Machu Piccu was very emotional.
“Rebecca and I stood shoulder to shoulder and for a minute or so and that will be a moment I will never forget.”
This is not the first time Alison has raised money for a good cause and she already has eyes on her next challenge.
Since 2010 Alison has raised cash for breast cancer charity ‘Walk the Walk which has since seen her and her husband complete three midnight marathons in London, Edinburgh and Lake Myvatn in Iceland raising money for breast cancer.