A BLACKWOOD woman is to take part in a five-day trek across Iceland to raise money for Bobath Children's Therapy Centre.

Francesca Carpanini, 28, owns the Tutta Bella shop in Brynmawr. She is taking part in challenging trek through a remote and potentially hostile environment to raise £2,400 for Bobath Children's Therapy Centre Wales, which provides specialist therapy to children in Wales who have cerebral palsy.

Ms Carpanini's challenge will take her from the active volcano Mt Hekla to Landmannalaugar and then south through the mountains to the icecaps of Myrdals and Eyjafjalla then to Reykjavik.

The trek will cover more than 150 miles through lava fields and past steaming vents, glaciers and snow fields. Ms Carpanini will be part of a group taking part in the trek to raise money for various charities. The team will spend their first night of camping at Landmannalaugar in the heart of southern Iceland's thermal area.

Ms Carpanini said: "We will have backpacks with our essentials. It's going to be hard, but it will definitely be worth it.

"I chose Bobath because I do quite a lot of charity events for them, vintage-themed afternoon teas, that sort of thing.

"Someone once recommended them to me and told me about the good work they do, and I've supported them ever since.

"I'm hoping to arrange a formal dinner dance soon, and hopefully that will raise quite a chunk of the money needed."

Bobath gives specialist physiotherapy, occupational, speech and language therapy to children with cerebral palsy in Wales.

Ms Carpanini's trek will start on July 3, 2013 and has so far raised £1,105 towards her target of £2,400.

To donate visit www.doitforcharity.com/FrancescaC

Where Francesca Carpanini's Iceland trek will begin: