A CHARITY fundraiser has been inspired to swap the office for the Himalayas in a bid to help under privileged children.

Joanne Brindle, of Brockhall Village, is preparing to take part in the foothills of the mountain range this May as part of a trip organised by a national children's charity.

The 30-year-old has decided to take on the challenge after being inspired to give something back to needy children.

She will depart for India on May 7 and will walk over 55km in the six days she is over there.

The trip will last nearly two weeks and has been organised by The Children's Society, a national charity that raises money for children across the UK.

Joanne will be walking through thick forests on the slopes of the Himalayas in the Himachal Pradesh province in North East India.

With £5,000 raised already, Joanne is hoping to raise more and is looking forward to the challenge.

She said: "I've always been active so for me to do this just takes that further.

"What inspires me to do something like this is that I think kids sometimes don't have the opportunities they should have. By doing this we can help them and maybe make a difference.

"I haven't really thought about the trip yet but it should be amazing. We've got a day in the Lake District before then to try to build fitness.

"Support from customers has been tremendous."

Joanne, who works at Ribchester based car hire company Brindles Ltd, has been preparing for the walk by scaling Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain.

Along with five work colleagues, she scaled the Scottish peak last weekend and helped add funds to their charity pot.

Joanne said the climb was good preparation for her oversees expedition.

She added: "To be honest the walk up Ben Nevis was hard work and very challenging. The lads I went with were super fit and it took us two and a half hours to get up there and two hours to get down.

"It usually takes six to eight hours in total so that time is pushing my fitness, but that can only be good."

Joanne will be the only one of the Brindles team to take part in the trip and calling on people to lend their support.