AN intrepid town teacher is heading to South America to raise money for a leading children's cancer charity, writes Carly Mann.

Meryl Hargreaves, of Aston Fields Middle School, is aiming to raise at least £2,500 to jet off to Peru during the Easter holidays to trek along the Inca Trail.

Money raised from the trek will go to Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood (CLIC). The teacher will be joined by 16 fellow fundraisers on the four-and-a-half-day jaunt, which begins at Cusco and ends at Machu Picchu.

"The trail follows steep paths and stone steps at an altitude of 4,000 metres, so it's not an easy walk," said Meryl.

"I am being helped by the pupils and they have already held a non-uniform day to raise funds for the challenge."

Anyone wishing to sponsor Meryl can visit her website at www.justgiving.com/mhargreaves

For further details on CLIC Sargent call 0845 124 1188 or visit www.clic.org.uk