TRENDY dogs across the country are helping a Dyserth woman to climb the highest peak in Africa.

Leah Hughes will join about 30 others on a trek up Mount Kilimanjaro in September to raise money for Nightingale House Hospice in Wrexham.

The hospice is one of the charities supported by the Crusaders Rugby League team and Leah, a physiotherapist who works at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and Rhyl’s Royal Alexandra Hospital, has played a vital role as the club’s physio in the past.

Also taking part will be David Walker, known as ‘Mouse’, the club’s former official photographer.

The trek is expected to prove quite a challenge, as Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, is 19,345 feet high, about five times the height of Snowdon.

As well as training for the physical aspect Leah is also busy raising funds and has set a personal target of £4,000.

Accompanying her on many of her runs on the hills around Dyserth is her two-year-old cocker spaniel Indie, who provided the inspiration for one of her successful fundraising efforts.

Leah’s mother, Anwen Hughes, from Meliden, used her sewing skills to produce a natty bandana for Indie, and the idea has caught on.

Friends and colleagues who own dogs asked for similar accessories, and the word has spread through social media, with the result that Anwen has to date produced over 100 tweed and tartan bandanas in different sizes.

They cost £5 each, giving Leah’s fundraising effort a big boost as well as making Britain’s canine population look smarter.

The 30 members of the group have raised a total of over £25,000 so far, but with the Covid-19 restrictions preventing many of the usual fundraising activities from taking place they are having to find more ingenious ways of reaching their targets.

The trek will provide a welcome boost for the hospice which has running costs of over £3.6m a year.

To donate to Leah’s effort visit the Just Giving page.