A MUM-OF-THREE from Fordingbridge swapped the school run for mountain trails, trekking through the foothills of the Indian Himalayas to raise money for Salisbury District Hospital.

Claire Sheppard, who works in the cardiology department at the hospital, was among 29 trekkers who took on steep climbs, rocky paths and high altitudes for the Stars Appeal.

Taking the rocky path through cloud up to the snowline. (Picture: Claire Sheppard)

The team travelled to Delhi before boarding a night train to McLeod Ganj, home of the Dalai Lama.

Over five gruelling days, they hiked for around eight hours a day through forests, villages and mountain meadows, reaching heights of 3,000 metres and sleeping in mountainside camps.

Trekkers celebrate reaching Triund Top!

For Claire, the challenge was deeply personal: having experienced care from Salisbury Hospital’s cancer, eye and stroke teams, she said the trek pushed her to her limits.

“For me the challenges included homesickness, uncomfortable planes, trains, buses and tents, ‘interesting’ toilets, surviving on a couple of hours sleep a night, 40 degree heat, heavy rain, fog, hail, thunder and lightning, traveller’s tummy and mild altitude sickness,” she said.

“Hiking to Triund on relentless uphill rocky terrain was one of the hardest things I’ve done. I discovered I’m tougher than I thought.

“Adrenaline, endorphins, teammates and chocolate got me to the top, and back again.”

Cardiology consultant and Stars Appeal Ambassador Dr Susie Lewis, also on her first trek, said: “It was wonderful to be part of this inspiring trek and to join so many hugely committed people supporting our hospital charity.”

The trekkers, aged between 31 and 85, are now collecting final sponsorship before revealing the fundraising total next month at an event in the Old George Mall on Saturday, May 30 from 11am to 2pm.

To support their fundraising efforts, visit https://starsappealtrek26.enthuse.com/salisburydistricthospitalstarsappeal/profile