Francesca's mountain trek raises £5k

Mrs Crowder lives in a care home in Virginia Water after Francesca and her brother made the heart rending decision to put her into residential care two years ago.

Franscesca, mum to Honey, nine, and Ted, five, said: "It was really quite traumatic for me. She wasn't happy about moving but there were no other option. Me and my brother had to make a decision. She's got to the stage now where she can't remember what I do, but I'm sure she would be proud of my trip."

Francesca, who undertook the fundraising mission with her partner Simon Downes, 39, whose grandmother died from Alzheimer's, came up with the idea of going to Peru after flicking through the Sunday papers and getting inspiration from pictures of Machu Picchu.

She said: "I've always wanted to do something like this, but never thought I would. I soon realised that if I did, it would have to be for charity and it would have to be for Alzheimers. It's something that is very close to our hearts."

Francesca and Simon completed the trek with 33 others, climbing over 4,500 metres and combating all four seasons.

Fransceca said: "We went through all the seasons out there. One day we went through a hail storm, another day it was snowing, and then, it was hot again. It was really quite wild and mad. It was an exhausting and exhilarating experience, but well worth it."

Between them Francesca and Simon have raised over £8,000 in total for the Alzheimer's Society and hope to undertake another event in the future.

To find out more about Francesca's trek, visit www.justgiving.com/francescasouthworth