AN inspirational grandmother, born with a hole in her heart, is to cycle 250 miles along the Nile to raise money for charity.

Caroline Clist, aged 66, from Great Witley, has decided to put her medical problems behind her and seize life with both hands.

She is to raise money for Professor Robert Winston's Women for Women Appeal, which trains scientists and clinicians to treat a range of devastating conditions affecting pregnant mothers and their babies.

"Until I started training, I hadn't been on a bicycle for 50 years so I've begun gradually to build up my stamina," said Caroline.

Her consultant has given her the go-ahead to take on the challenge, which is not the first - at the age of 59 she passed her test to ride a motorcycle.

But Caroline said her biggest challenge had "just been living".

"I wasn't expected to live very long when I was a child but my mother always made me get up and get going," she said.

"I've just got to do things. I want to raise as much money as possible."

The Women for Women appeal is close to Caroline's heart because her eldest daughter, Sophia, had difficulties when she was pregnant.

"Sophia went through the physical and emotional agony of five miscarriages until she eventually had a successful pregnancy," said Caroline.

"I want to do something to help others like her, so they don't have to suffer the same misery," she added.