A BARROW woman will fulfill a family member's final wish by scattering his ashes on the highest mountain in Africa.

Stephanie Barnes, 33, has so far raised £1,060 from her Just Giving page for her trek up Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, all of which will go to St Mary's Hospice.

She has also enlisted the help of a Barrow barbers to help her bring much-needed items to an orphanage while she is over there.  

The hiker, who has recently climbed the three UK peaks, will tackle the 5,895-metre volcano next month. 

 

"I'm doing it because my step-grandad passed away in St Mary's Hospice early last year. They looked after him really well-amazing really. He didn't think he was in pain,” she said.

Stephanie said that his final wish was for her to climb Kilimanjaro and scatter his ashes at the top. She will arrive in Tanzania on January 10 and start the seven-day trek on the 12th.  

While she was researching the trip, she found an orphanage in Tanzania and decided she was going to use a free day to visit it. Asylum287 Barbers on Rawlinson Street has collected toys and clothes ready for them to be sent.

Liverpool company Deepsea Technologies will be sending the items to the Tuleeni Home orphanage near Kilimanjaro. 

"They have been amazing, very helpful," she said about the barbers. 

Stephanie has an Instagram account with 22,600 followers with most of the pictures featuring her on walks in the Lake District. 

On her Just Giving page, she said: "Many people will know from my Instagram that I have a love for the outdoors. I spend as much of my free time, outside enjoying the mountains and lakes! Whether it’s in the sun, rain, snow, hail or wind."

She said that she became 'extremely close' with her step-grandad in his last few months, and now she wants to 'take him along for the ride.' 

"To honour him, I will be raising money for the charity that gave so much to him in his last few months with us," Stephanie said.