DETERMINED Sophie Hopkins is gearing up for a gruelling trek to raise money for the charity set up in memory of her brother.
She was just five when her younger sibling James died and said it has had a 'massive impact' on her.
The 29-year-old has now been inspired to take on a five-day climb in Morocco with friend Katie Parker to raise at least £3,100 for the James Hopkins Trust.
The charity was set up by her parents to help severely disabled children and is running an Overnight campaign to raise £500,000 to build a bedroom extension at its Gloucester base.
Sophie said: "I was five when James died and obviously it had a massive impact on me.
"I was very young and guess I didn't really understand why it was all happening and dealing with that has shaped who I am today.
"He is still a big part of my life because of the trust."
She has been involved with countless fundraising events over the years but this is the first big fundraiser she has done herself.
She said: I've been lucky enough to see first-hand the amazing work that everyone at the trust does and know just how much the overnight care we are looking to provide is needed by the kids and their families.
"As far as I'm concerned there is no better cause and no one else I would be putting myself through this trek for."
The Cheltenham resident and Katie, 22, from Ashleworth, will set off in September for the Atlas Mountains.
Katie said: "I wanted to do something for a local charity and knew about the James Hopkins Trust and their overnight campaign through Soph.
"I really wanted to do what I could to help raise something towards their mammoth target and thought this would be a great way to do it and a great way to try and kick me and Soph in to getting fit."
Follow their journey and donate at www.lettersfromavoyage.blogspot.com
She was just five when her younger sibling James died and said it has had a 'massive impact' on her.
The 29-year-old has now been inspired to take on a five-day climb in Morocco with friend Katie Parker to raise at least £3,100 for the James Hopkins Trust.
The charity was set up by her parents to help severely disabled children and is running an Overnight campaign to raise £500,000 to build a bedroom extension at its Gloucester base.
Sophie said: "I was five when James died and obviously it had a massive impact on me.
"I was very young and guess I didn't really understand why it was all happening and dealing with that has shaped who I am today.
"He is still a big part of my life because of the trust."
She has been involved with countless fundraising events over the years but this is the first big fundraiser she has done herself.
She said: I've been lucky enough to see first-hand the amazing work that everyone at the trust does and know just how much the overnight care we are looking to provide is needed by the kids and their families.
"As far as I'm concerned there is no better cause and no one else I would be putting myself through this trek for."
The Cheltenham resident and Katie, 22, from Ashleworth, will set off in September for the Atlas Mountains.
Katie said: "I wanted to do something for a local charity and knew about the James Hopkins Trust and their overnight campaign through Soph.
"I really wanted to do what I could to help raise something towards their mammoth target and thought this would be a great way to do it and a great way to try and kick me and Soph in to getting fit."
Follow their journey and donate at www.lettersfromavoyage.blogspot.com
