When identical twins Robyn and Becky Tunnicliff take on the challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro they will be relying on sisterly support to get them through.
The teenagers from Bucknall near Stoke-on-Trent will take on the highest freestanding mountain in the world to make money for the Childreach International charity.
The 18-year-old students are now asking people to sponsor them.
The twins, who are both studying bio-medical science at Chester University, have to raise £2,450 each to pay for the cost of the climb. So far they have raised £300 between them.
Becky said: “We are grateful of any help or donation that people could offer us to help us reach our goal.
“I promise that anyone who donates will be kept informed of the entire journey and its success.”
Over half of the money that is raised will go to the charity, which works with developing countries to improve child education and healthcare.
Robyn said: “It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“Before the climb we get to visit projects which the charity funds so we can see where the money is going and I am really looking forward to that.”
The 10-day trek taking the teenagers to Africa’s highest point sets out on June 26. There will be a total of 26 students taking part.
Becky added: “It is quite a scary prospect, but I am excited as well.
“I think it is great that I am doing this with my sister. To do something as amazing as this we will need to support each other, because I think it will get tough at times. But we have always been there for each other and this will be the same.”
The group will do an average of six hours trekking every day, setting out early every day to avoid any turbulent weather conditions.
The sisters, who haven’t begun training yet, say they are going to practise their walking skills during a camping holiday in Wales.
Becky said: “We have been told to keep as physically fit as possible and try to build up our stamina.
“We need to make sure that we can handle the physical side to trekking, but we will be ready for it.”
To raise money for the trek, the twins are planning to hold events at university and at Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College where they both used to go.
Becky said: “We have been in touch with local companies and our old school to drum up some sponsorship.
“When we came home for Christmas we made our own collection tins and left them around shops and so on in Bucknall to try and encourage people to put their hands in their pockets and help us out.”
Their dad Nicholas Tunnicliff is in total support of the climb.
He said: “I think it is fantastic and it is something that I never had the chance to do.
“The girls have always done everything together, and this will be a great opportunity for them.
“I told them it’s no good sitting around in your summer break and being lazy, they want to get out there.
“I think something like this is character-building.”