By Nora Parminter

CREDITON fundraiser, Claire Arthur, will be trekking The Great Wall of China in October, in aid of Hospiscare.

Claire raised more than £2,500 for the charity in 2014 when she took part in a Sahara Desert trek.

She has been fundraising since June 2015 with events including six book sales at the outdoor craft market on Exeter Quay which raised more than £300 and two cake sales at Mole Avon’s Town & Country Stores in Crediton raised more than £400. Claire also organised her own market on Exeter Quay, which raised almost £300. Five bucket collections at Morrisons Crediton store and one at the Crediton Tesco Wellparks store collectively raised more than £1,200 and friends and family donated almost £1,200 on Claire’s Just Giving page.

Claire also raised funds at other events including a Family Fun Day at Crediton Rugby Club, a two-day Christmas market and an Easter market.

She also raised funds through Christmas raffles, a bonus ball draw that ran for 24 weeks, a Rugby World Cup sweepstake and 1p and 2p collection from a friend.

To date, Claire has raised a staggering £4,085.17, for the Great Wall Trek, far more than her original target of £2,950.

Claire said: "The trek is rated as moderate to challenging.

"The section of the wall that we will be trekking is Gubeikou to Simatai.

"We will be camping in the nearby villages for the duration of the trek.

"Each trekking day will start at 8.30am and we will be trekking around 12km a day over around eight hours.

"We will be trekking restored parts of the wall as well as original sections of the wall.

"I think the ascent is probably going to be harder work than the distance, especially by day three. The itinerary covers a total hiking distance of 49.31km (30.63 miles) with a total average daily ascent of 665.2metres.

Claire’s Just Giving page is still active and will remain active until she has completed the trek and any donations would be gratefully received at: www.justgiving.com/Claire-Arthur4 or text TGWC67 and the amount you wish to donate, to 70070.