A HAIR stylist left the comfort of the salon behind – for a gruelling trek up the highest mountain in Africa.

Becci Evemy, of Leyburn, tackled Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for the Great North Air Ambulance and the Wish Tree Foundation.

The 24-year-old travelled to Tanzania last month and trekked for eight days, raising around £3,000 in sponsorship.

And she also held a fundraising ball at the Holiday Inn, Scotch Corner, to go towards the final pot of money which will be split between both charities.

“My bag got lost on the way out so I had to do the first day’s trekking with no luggage,” she said.

“It was gruelling hiking to the summit - we walked for 15 hours, going all through the night. It was minus 10 degrees and our hot water bottles froze. I kept my mind on the charities I was raising money for.”

She trained for the hike by walking at Penhill near Leyburn and took on the Three Peaks Challenge where participants attempt to climb the highest mountains of Scotland, England and Wales.

“GNAAS is an invaluable service and you never know when you’re going to need it. We would be lost without it in rural areas, they really are a lifeline”.

The Great North Air Ambulance Service need £4m every year to run the three air ambulances they operate. To donate visit gnaas.com/donate