TWO sisters are trekking along one of the world's most famous landmarks in memory of their mother who died from breast cancer.

Rita Garner, from Brighton, and her sister Mary-Anne Sadler will be heading for the Great Wall of China in October and hope to raise as much money as possible for Cancer Research UK.

Ms Garner, who is assistant director of community care at South Downs Health NHS Trust in Brighton, will be doing the gruelling walk with her sister for nine hours a day over seven days along the wall, which stretches 6,700 kilometres or 4,163 miles.

The pair are hoping to raise at least £7,000.

Ms Garner said: "Our mum Jeanne died of breast cancer in 2000 and we both miss her loads so this is a tribute to her.

"Our dad, who gave us both the appetite for travel and adventure, loved walking and we know he would have approved of the challenge and envied the wonderful sights we shall see."

Ms Garner, 47, who has two daughters Phoebe, 16, and Sophie, almost 15, has set herself a series of challenges to prepare for the trip.

The first was to lose weight, which she has achieved, shedding two stone.

She is also getting fit by taking part in several activities, including netball, running, cycling and walking.

Ms Garner and her sister, who lives in Cumbria, will also be meeting up for some shared fitness sessions before leaving for the trek itself.

She said: "It is going to be a tough trek but we are really looking forward to it as it is something completely different.

"I took part in the Race for Life in Brighton for the first time last year and enjoyed it but then I wanted to do something else.

"My sister and I were talking about getting away somewhere and we came up with the idea of doing something for a cancer charity. We looked it up and found out about the trek and it seemed the ideal thing.

"My daughters have been really supportive as they are old enough to remember my mum and miss her."

Cancer Research UK is the the leading cancer charity in Britain.

Anyone interested in supporting Ms Garner can email rita.garner@ntlworld.com