LEGAL eagles will be aiming to reach the top of Africa's largest mountain this summer, as part of a fundraising challenge to support Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

The team of four taking part in the challenge are Alexandra Phillips, Worcestershire Law Society (WLS) president from Mfg Solicitors, Priya Tromans, society secretary from Harrison Clark Rickerbys, Claire Gamage from Bird and Bird LLP and Sharon Sheehan, a consultant microbiologist.

The team is raising money for a new maternity bereavement suite at the hospital.

Miss Phillips said: "Every year the WLS choose to fundraise for a different charity and as someone who was raised in Worcester it was very important to me to support a local charity. The committee also wanted to support a local charity that would see a real benefit from the money raised, enabling people who donate to be able to say 'my donation helped to build that'.

"We met Trudy Berlet, the midwife heading up Worcestershire Royal Hospital’s campaign. Trudy gave us a tour of the facilities that currently exist but explained that the space they presently have is just not enough.

"Heartbreakingly they have to turn parents away on a regular basis or ask expectant mothers to give birth in the main maternity ward even though they know that their baby will not survive. At all of our events we will be doing things to raise money for the new suite."

The main fundraising event is climbing Kilimanjaro the world’s tallest freestanding mountain. The seven-day trek begins on August 21 when the team, which has been named Kili-Billies, will be climbing 71 kilometres up the mountain, reaching an elevation of 5,895 metres above sea level.

Training is well underway which has included walks on the Malvern Hills, while a training expedition in Snowdonia is being held in June.

The aim is to raise £20,000 in total this year and so far more than £500 has already been collected. Other events being held this year include a raffle at the society's awards dinner on April 27, an African-themed fundraising extravaganza in June, a quiz, a charity cricket match and a sponsored cycle in Worcester city centre. For more details on the climb visit kili-billies.co.uk, or to make a donation visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/alexandra-phillips.