THE time is close for the Palliative Care East appeal at the James Paget University Hospital to reach new heights when climbers scale Ben Nevis.

A 50-strong team of women will be travelling to Scotland on May 6 to try to climb the 4,400ft high mountain and raise �14,000 for Belton man Tremaine Kent’s Carla’s Angels appeal.

And the group’s last training session is due to take place on Sunday along Gorleston cliffs.

Mr Kent, an ex-elite special forces member, set up the appeal to try to raise �30,000 for the charity in memory of his partner Carla Saunders, who died of cancer in 2009.

The experienced former soldier has completed the Four Deserts Challenge across some of the driest, hottest, windiest and coldest places on earth and will be responsible for training the fundraisers to complete their trek.

The money raised by the team, which includes staff from a PR recruitment company and hospital staff including student nurses and hairdressers, will help pay for a garden at the new Palliative Care East centre, which is set to be built once fundraisers have achieved their goal of raising �1.5m.

Fundraising is not usually a dirty job, but Andrew McNamara and friends endured plenty of mud, sweat and tears to raise �100 for the appeal by taking part in the Maldon Mud Race in the cold river Blackwater.

Mr McNamara said: “As you will see from the pictures it was ridiculously muddy. We had a great time, we had to change the team about at short notice, but it ended up being myself, Ian Buckseall and Emily Dyble, my girlfriend.

“What surprised us all most was how tiring it was; after about a quarter of the race (in total it was about 400m) the majority of the racers were shattered and crawling.”

Forthcoming events in aid of the appeal include:

May 6/7: Ben Nevis Challenge.

May 15: Spring charity walk organised by Yarmouth Rotary Club.

June 17: Masquerade Ball organised by Yarmouth College at the Imperial Hotel.

July 24: Fete at the James Paget University Hospital.

October 7: Moonlite Walk along Lowestoft seafront with bacon, rolls, tea and coffee at the finish.

To make a donation to the appeal, visit www.palliativecareeast.org.uk

Cheques, made payable to Palliative Care East, can be sent to Palliative Care East, Fundraising Office, James Paget University Hospital, Gorleston, NR31 6LA.