TREKKING for up to eight hours a day across the Himalayas with temperatures plummeting to -15C is tough.

But a girl being without shampoo and lipstick for six days - that is a challenge.

Nothing will deter Lisa Vickers from raising £2,500 for breast cancer research when she sets off on her journey to Nepal today, however.

Lisa, 32, who comes from Bishop Auckland, has been training since September to complete the marathon trek for her chosen charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer with 38 other hikers.

"It is something I've wanted to do for a long time and this was the perfect opportunity to tackle something quite challenging but for a good cause," said Lisa, an administrator in the teaching company centre at Durham University.

"The terrain is quite hilly and we will be climbing to a maximum of 4,000 metres, so I think one of the main concerns will be acclimatising.

"When you sit and read what you've let yourself in for you feel a bit anxious but I'm really excited about it."

Lisa has completed the Great North Run on five occasions and was part of a group who raised more than £25,000 for Breakthrough almost three years ago, by getting celebrities such as Bruce Oldfield to customise plain white brassieres and then auction them off.

For her latest challenge she has had sponsorship from local companies, including £250 from Bishop Auckland College and £100 from E and F Fibreglass in Hartlepool.