A WALKER has overcome a mountainous challenge as she hiked to the Mount Everest Base Camp in memory of two friends.

Sam Sale flew out to Kathmandu in Nepal on Thursday, November 2, and began the 12-day trek from Lukla the next day.

The 42-year-old from Horwich completed the mammoth effort in tribute to her two friends Andrew Leigh and Peter Gwinnett, who both died from cancer earlier this year.

Ms Sale, who has previously completed the three peaks challenge in memory of her dog Ruby, said it was one of the toughest experiences of her life.

She said: “When we got to 3,500m on the second day, everybody was really feeling the effects.

“It was a really funny feeling and it made me quite emotional. I was not feeling very well and I was getting about two hours sleep a night and hiking for eight hours.”

“But getting to the base camp was really overwhelming and we all cried and laughed.

“There was someone in our group who did not make it. She had to be taken out by helicopter. She is fine now but it really brought it home about how dangerous it can be.”

Horwich man Mr Leigh, a popular Bolton Wanderers fan known as Pud, died from a brain tumour in January at the age of 50 and Mr Gwinnett, from Blackrod, died in March aged 64 from bowel cancer.

Ms Sale has raised around £1,200 for Bolton Hospice and £900 for The Brain Tumour Charity.

She said: “Hopefully I am going to get both of them over £1,000.”

Anyone who wants to donate can do so by going to the fundraising site at justgiving.com/teams/Sam-Everest-trek