A SENIOR wealth manager in Jersey is heading to Cape Town today in a bid to complete the demanding Breast Cancer Care Trek South Africa.

Shani Clark (39), who is originally from Newcastle, is one of around 40 women taking on the challenge for charity which climaxes with a hike up Cape Town’s Table Mountain.

‘South Africa is one of my favourite places, I’ve been there a few times, and when I saw the event advertised in a magazine I thought that it would be a great challenge and a chance to give something back,’ said Mrs Clark, who works for Horizon Investments.

‘I’ve been affected by cancer, not personally, but through family and close friends and this is a way of helping such a fantastic cause like Breast Cancer Care who offer amazing support to breast cancer sufferers.

‘The effects of cancer on a family can be horrific and I wanted to do something that I felt may benefit someone who needed help.’

The walkers will head to the De Hoop Nature Reserve and high into the Potberg Mountains before descending and walking the following day across the sand dunes to reach the Indian Ocean.

They will journey through patches of indigenous forest in Swellendam, and walk along the Boesmanskloof Trail through the Riviersonderend Mountains before heading back to the ‘big challenge Cape Town and climbing 1,085m up Table Mountain.

‘Table Mountain will definitely be the big challenge of the week but we will be covering about 150 miles over a seven day period so I’ve been training at least three times a week for the past six months,’ added Mrs Clark who is married with two children and has lived in Jersey for 20 years.

‘I’m on target to reach my goal of raising £5,000 as I’ve raised just over £4,000 thanks to the generosity of friends, colleagues, clients, and my employer who has agreed to match any donation I receive. I’ve also had great support from my husband Paul which has enabled me to train and go on this trip and now I’m really looking forward to taking on this challenge in South Africa which is for such a wonderful cause.’

• Anyone interested in sponsoring Shani should e-mail shani@horizon.je.