A RADIO presenter inspired by covering the stories of families at an Oxford children’s hospice will take part in a jungle trek fundraiser to show her ‘pure admiration’ for staff and patients.

Annabelle Buckland, from Abingdon, is planning to take on the Borneo Jungle Challenge in March next year to raise money for Helen & Douglas House and is appealing for other people to sign-up for the endeavour.

As a music and content producer for JACKfm, the 27-year-old has been a part of the Oxfordshire station’s annual radiothon for the hospice for three years.

This year the Helen & Douglas House Radiothon raised more than £200,000 to help local terminally ill children.

For the event, Ms Buckland interviews the families of children who either come to the East Oxford hospice for respite care or whose children have died, so they can tell their emotional story on air to raise money for the charity.

She said: “Helen & Douglas House holds a very special place in my heart.

“Nobody in my family has, so far, needed to use their services, but through my job over the last couple of years I’ve met many families who’ve worn their heart on their sleeve and talked to me in great detail about the invaluable memories they’ve made there, and how their last moments with their children as they passed away were so much better for being at Helen & Douglas House.”

She added: “Hearing so many moving stories, no two the same, has been life changing for me - every parent I’ve met who’s suffered, or has the suffering of a bereavement still to come, has taught me how precious life is and also how fragile and unpredictable the future is for us and our families. We never know what’s around the corner.”

Determined to her own personal fundraising for the hospice she has signed up for the Borneo Jungle Challenge.

Taking place from March 29 to April 9 2019, it will involve five days trekking through the jungle, with varied terrain; including paddy fields, rubber plantations, fruit orchards, mountain ridges, and rivers.

Participants will camp in deep jungle and learn survival skills such as making traps, building shelter and identifying edible fruits and foods.

At the end of the trek, they will stay in Borneo at the world-famous Sepilok orangutan sanctuary, which helps the creature slowly reintegrate into the wild.

There will even be a chance to walk through the reserve and see the orangutans up close.

Ms Buckland said: “It’s been a lifelong dream of mine, well, since the age of about six, to go to Borneo and see the orangutans.

“Its totally out of my comfort zone, I’m not a camper, so to sleep in the jungle and do something so physically demanding is going to be a real challenge.

“It’s a bit daunting but I’m so excited about this opportunity to do something very out of the ordinary for me.”

She added: “So, if you’ve found yourself thinking lately that you need a challenge, something new to focus on, to push you out of your comfort zone and help you meet new people and give something back to the community, this could be the perfect opportunity.

“It will give you a fantastic life experience that you’ll remember forever and at the same time as doing that, you’ll be improving the lives of others.”

Anyone who would like to find out more about the challenge either call Hannah Smart on 01865 799166 or email her at hsmart@helenanddouglas.org.uk.