A CAMPING virgin is among the excitable adventurers who will scale almost 6,000 metres of rockface to fundraise for a respite care charity.

Adrenaline junkie Terri-Anne Watts is part of a nine-strong team training to tackle Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, for Helen & Douglas House.

The 33-year-old Carterton resident, who works at Leys Pools and Leisure Centre in Oxford, said: “This is by far my biggest challenge to date. It’s something I always wanted to do. The only thing I’m trying not to think about is sleeping outdoors – I’ve never been camping.”

Despite her adversity to outdoor living, Mrs Watts will endeavour through jungle, moorland and ice during the 16-day trek.

Since signing up, she has joined Helen & Douglas House as a community and events fundraiser.

So far she has raised £2,762 for the climb, through collections and a fight club at the leisure centre.

Joining her in Tanzania is Ben Gibbons, 30, who is head chef at Oxford University’s Hertford College. He said: “I’ve never done anything like this but I’ve always had a bit of adventure in me.

Ever since I was a small child Africa has been a draw. I saw the opportunity to help a great cause and get a personal achievement.”

The Marston resident is close to achieving his £3,800 target, which he hopes to boost to £5,000 before the climb.

He said: “It’s a bit of excitement, climbing to the top of a massive volcano with a bunch of strangers.”

One of them will be a familiar face – his friend Mike James.

The 33-year-old project manager, who lives in East Challow, said: “What got me was that it is for Helen & Douglas House. I’ve seen people do these types of things before but never jumped at the chance of doing it myself. I’m excited by it but it’s a little bit daunting.”

The pair will tackle Mount Snowdon as a warm-up for Kilimanjaro, which towers at five times the height.

Jane Channon, care worker at Helen & Douglas, represented the three ‘Douglas House Divas’ who will be climbing the dormant volcano. Her colleague Bobby Higson, community fundraiser at the charity, said two other women from Oxford and a teenager from Bicester have also signed up for the climb in September.