IT IS becoming a popular way for charity champions to raise money for good causes.

Each year, thousands more people are attempting to pit their wits against Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, in aid of their favourite charities.

Paul O’Rourke and his girlfriend Gemma Hyland are among the latest people getting ready to brave the 6,000 metre peak.

And in doing so, they hope to be part of a team that will give a fundraising boost to Bolton’s Marie Curie Nurses Appeal, which is being backed by The Bolton News.

They hope to raise more than £7,500 towards the charity’s £200,000 target.

And they are looking for three more people from Bolton to join them, meaning the team can donate more than £18,000 — nearly 10 per cent of the total.

Mr O’Rourke lives in Daisy Hill, Westhoughton, with Miss Hyland, aged 24, and they will celebrate their seventh anniversary on the climb.

The 35-year-old said: “We are both very active and like a challenge and Marie Curie is a really good cause, plus it will be a different way to celebrate our anniversary!”

The couple will travel to Africa in September 2010 and undertake the challenge over 10 days, finishing on October 3.

As most of the sponsorship money needs to be in before the trip it will go to the Marie Curie Nurses Appeal.

Mr O’Rourke said: “We’re really excited, I think the biggest challenge will be coping with the altitude.

“People should definitely go for it. Not only is it a great challenge, it’s for a great cause.”

Marie Curie Cancer Care launched the campaign in June to raise the funds in Bolton to provide nursing care to more terminally ill people.

Hannah Taylor, community fundraiser for Bolton, said: "We’d like to thank Gemma and Paul for signing up to take part in this amazing challenge.

“If you’re inspired by their challenge and would like to support the Nurses Appeal we’d love to hear from you.”

Anyone interested in taking part needs to raise a minimum of £3,750 in sponsorship. To find out more contact Hannah Taylor on 0161 255 2809.

To sponsor Paul and Gemma visit justgiving.com /paulorourke or justgiving.com /teamcountymanjaro.

cherry.thomas@ theboltonnews.co.uk