Ex-army officer Beth Hall-Thompson, 33, a doctor at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, will be part of a team which is attempting to climb Everest's notoriously difficult North Ridge in 2012.

Along with eight other ex-servicemen and one non-military friend, Beth, who lives on the Marsh, hopes to raise £200,000 for the Help The Heroes charity.

And to add to the challenge she will be deploying to Afghanistan in October with the Territorial Army Centre in Caton Road.

She said although the North Ridge of the 8,848 metre mountain is more difficult, it is also safer for the team to climb.

"It's not the most obvious route up but I made the decision because it's a safer way up, and we can see the whole route from the bottom.
"We've got a lot to do in terms of teamwork and ensuring we have the right equipment, but essentially we're all mountaineers and have all had experience over 6,000 metres.

"As a mountaineer, Everest is the ultimate challenge, but we're also raising awareness and money for the service veterans charity Help for Heroes."

The team is now looking for sponsorship and support, either through 'selling off' sections of the mountain, or by supporting one of the five high-mountain camps required for the attempt.

For further information go to www.everest4heroes.com.