A NORTH-East mum is taking her beloved Paddington Bear doll “home” as she takes part in a charity trek in Peru.

Laura Cowap, who has daughters aged nine months and six, left her home in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, on Friday (May 10) for the ten-day Inca Trek Challenge.

She is raising money for Heel and Toe, which cares for disabled children.

Her eldest daughter, Lois, receives conductive educational therapy at the Durham-based charity.

With her to South America went five other fundraising parents and her toy Paddington Bear, said to be from darkest Peru.

She said: “I wanted to do something challenging and different to raise money for the charity and when I saw the Inca Trek was being organised I automatically thought of the connection with my beloved Paddington Bear so I signed up.”

The Trek includes climbing to 13,000ft above sea level. Organisers hope to raise more than £12,000.

Follow the expedition’s progress on Twitter at #incatrek2013. Sponsor the parents online at heelandtoe.org.uk