A GLOBETROTTING missionary is jetting thousands of miles to take on one of the biggest challenges of her life so far.

Cath Collins, who was born and raised in Blackburn, has swapped the relative comforts of her missionary hostel in London to live and work among some of the poorest people in the world.

The plucky 26-year-old Blackburn Rovers fan flew out to Lima in Peru yesterday (June 26) where she will spend the next three years working for the Missionary Society of St Columban.

No stranger to South America, having spent almost a year working with street children in Brazil, Cath will be undertaking pastoral work in Lima's shanty town.

"It's quite a challenge but this is the only kind of work I want to do," said Cath. "Lima is in a terrible state and I'm not sure what to expect - but my faith plays a big part in my life.

"What we're trying to do is get people's lives back to normal and get them to take charge of their own situation."

A former St Mary's College student, Cath entered missionary work after graduating from Cambridge University.

Her parents live on Revidge Road where Cath paid an emotional farewell visit last weekend.

"We're really proud of her," said Cath's dad Jim. "She's very outgoing and gets on well with people so she's suited to missionary work.

"We're going to miss her but I'm sure she'll be made very welcome in Peru and will be happy so long as she keep tabs on how Rovers are doing."

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