TAKING on a gruelling 10 day trek through the Peruvian mountains, a Barry woman is honouring the memory of her inspirational mum and raising money for cancer research.

Charlie Brown, from Highlight Park, Barry, will be tackling the famous Inca trail route to Machu Picchu, the mysterious lost city of the Incas, in memory of her mother Shirley Bassett who died in 2013.

Shirley died at the age of 62, just weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Having travelled the world in the years previous, Shirley had always wanted to visit Machu Picchu.

"My mum was a truly amazing person and an inspiration to those around her," said Charlie, a mother of two girls herself. "She travelled the world including tours of Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Ecuador and the Galapagos islands, Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Iceland and the UK.

"After we lost my dad in 1997 to a fatal heart attack my mum travelled alone as she felt that she was doing it for both of them, she knew that my dad wouldn’t have wanted her to give up on her dreams.

"My parents were inspirational, and I want my children to see how I’m following in their footsteps so that they know that they can achieve anything too.

"Together my mum and dad have given me the strength to carry on as I miss them both so much."

Balancing being a parent and her full time job at Cardiff Airport with training for the high altitude trek has proved a challenge for Charlie but having already exceeded her fundraising target she has been inspired to raise as much money for the charity as possible.

Adding long walks in the park and trips to the swimming pool to her training regime, Charlie, 32, has also climbed Pen-y-fan several times to prepare for the South American mountains.

Charlie: "I have raised my personal financial target of £3,100, but would love to raise more as the charity’s work is amazing.

"I’d also love to raise awareness of this silent killer disease.

"As mums only daughter I haven't just lost my mum but also my best friend. I did everything with her and saw or spoke to her every day, she was amazing with my two beautiful daughters who miss her terribly.

"I don't want other people out there to go through what I've been through which is why I strongly believe in more research being done to diagnose pancreatic cancer earlier and prolonging lives for longer."

Charlie has raised the money with support from her friends and family and issued a special thanks to Karen Canty from the Caso Paco Restaurant, to the Animal Health Centre, the office of Swissport at Cardiff Airport and Rock IT in Bridgend.

Charlie has also organised a bucket collection at Cardiff Airport, a raffle and tombola and a name the bear competition.

If you would like to donate visit www.justgiving.com/charlotte-brown16