TWO licensees from the Vale are set to take on the mountains of Ethiopia in what they have called the Adventure for Dementia.

Gemma Fernihough and Murray Spencer, who are licensees at the Wheelbarrow Castle in Radford where they also live, will be flying out to Africa later this year to take part in the Simien Peaks Challenge.

The October trek, which takes 10 days, will see the couple tackle 155 kilometers across the Simien mountain range and its highest peak, Ras Dashen standing at 4,550 metres.

And the challenge doesn't end there for the couple as they are hoping to raise £7,000 in total for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Miss Fernihough, aged 29, said: "Murray has had two of his grandparents suffer with this devastating disease and I believe the elderly are a segment of society whose needs are much ignored.

"We are very much looking forward to the challenge and have coined it the Adventure for Dementia. We are both natural born travellers, Murray is from Australia, but it will be our first time to visit Ethiopia so in addition to climbing a mountain we are very excited about witnessing a vastly different culture and landscape first hand."

The pair are now working hard to prepare for the mammoth challenge.

"We are training with Amy Marshall who runs ALM Fitness and do two personal training sessions a week strength training, one cardio session in the gym and various walks around the UK," added Miss Fernihough.

"We are also tackling Snowdon in April, Scafel Pike in June and Ben Nevis in July.

"As licensees we will be using the pub as a platform to fundraise and are already planning a gala dinner and auction of promises on Saturday, May 24, a family fun day in July and a 4x4 pay and play event in my family woodland.

"All the proceeds from each of these events will be donated to the cause."

Anyone who would like to sponsor the pair and support the Alzheimer's Research UK should visit justgiving.com/adventurefordementia.