MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE FOR CANCER CHARITY

Eight staff and friends from the Argos store in Carmarthen's Merlin’s Walk shopping centre have set themselves a challenge to climb Snowdon this summer to help teenagers in their fight against cancer.

Store manager Amanda Ansty and the other volunteers will be scaling the mountain to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust whose aim is to  improve the quality of life and the chances of survival for young people with cancer.

At an altitude of 1,085 metres (3,560 ft) above sea level, Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales and the group of eight, whose ages range from 22 to 50, expect their challenge to take three or four hours.

“None of us have done it before and we haven’t been training apart from a few short strolls but we’ll do it,” said Argos worker Laura, who is one of the eight.

The group originally set a target of raising £500 but they have already collected about £300 from in-store donations and sponsorship and Laura said they would now be revising their target to raise as much money as possible for such a worthy cause.

The eight taking on the challenge are: Amy Simons, Amanda Ansty, Sian Newell, Zeta Moran, David Meek, Amanda Wilmett, Laura Morgan, Donna Thomas.

The Teenage Cancer Trust, which is Argos’s chosen charity, aims to ensure that every young person with cancer and their family receive the best possible care and professional support throughout their cancer journey.

The trust funds and builds specialist units in NHS hospitals, and brings together young people with cancer so they can support each other and be treated by teenage cancer experts in an environment tailored to their needs.