A CHARD woman is hard at work training for the challenge of a lifetime to raise much-needed funds for dementia research.

Laura Corrick is aiming to reach the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, to raise £3,000 for Alzheimer’s research charity BRACE.

The 31-year-old school teacher will be completing the challenge alongside her boyfriend, Jon, from August 13-24.

Laura, whose dad was diagnosed with early on-set dementia in 2011, set up Remembering Not to Forget, along with her friend Ali Turnball, a charity to help to help raise money for dementia research.

After setting up the charity the thrill-seeking women, who met in London playing hockey, set themselves the task of raising £10,000 in 10 months by taking part in 10 challenges.

So far, Laura and Ali have raised £7,000 and hope Laura’s final challenge will help them reach their total before September.

The women have already completed The Colour Run, The Ten Tors Challenge, cycled from London to Paris and have taken part in ten outdoor swimming challenges including the Big Chill Swim and in The Thames, as well as holding many other fund-raising events.

Former Holyrood Academy student Laura said: “My dad loves science so it seems only right that I raise money for BRACE. At the moment, my dad lives happily at home with my mum and doesn’t require any nurses. Research is what is crucial for him at the moment.”

BRACE chief executive Mark Poarch praised Laura and Ali for all their hard work.

He said: “What a remarkable challenge Laura and Ali have set themselves. It’s very impressive and I wish them all the very best of luck.

“We rely entirely on donations to fund our research so all their fundraising is so important to us and we are very grateful.”

While Laura and Jon hike to the summit of Kilimanjaro, Ali will be undertaking a 192 mile coast-to-coast walk in Northern England.

As well as fund-raising for BRACE, Laura and Ali are also raising cash for Alzheimer’s Society, Reminiscence Learning, Dementia UK, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Playlist for Life and other local Somerset services.