AN amateur mountain hiker is preparing to scale Africa's highest peak to raise money for the prevention of malaria among some of the country's most impoverished natives.

Teresa Nevard, of Francis Avenue, St Albans, will brave altitude sickness and the elements to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of the Against Malaria Foundation.

Accompanied by close friend Naomi Mwasanbili, who survived a deadly bout of the disease while visiting family in Tanzania a few years ago, the 24-year-old former psychiatric practitioner hopes to raise more than £1,000 for the charity.

The money will go some way in helping to lower the risk of the disease among Africa's poorest people by providing them with life-saving mosquito nets in their homes.

Teresa, a former St Albans Girls' School pupil, said: "I think it's an ecxiting opportunity. I'm lucky to have the chance to do this - a lot of people would love to do it.

"It will be exciting to see how I'm going to come up against the challenges."

The gruelling seven day ascent to the mountain's summit begins next Sunday.

In preparation for the challenge, Teresa has climbed Mount Snowdon, and back packed around Europe.

She has raised £600 so far, but hopes to topple her target of £1,000 by encouraging sponsors to donate by visiting www.againstmalaria/tessnevard