A group of intrepid explorers were set to climb the highest mountains in the British Isles today to raise money for charity.

The group, which includes Barnes resident Beth Duddy, will take part in the three peaks challenge in the hope of raising £5,000 for dementia charity The Alzheimer's Society.

Miss Duddy, of Cross Street, said: “Personally, I am walking for my grandmother who I hugely love, but over the past few years she has struggled with Alzheimer's.

"I can't talk to her as I used to and so I wanted to do something to help her and others alike.”

And 25-year-old Miss Duddy is not alone in feeling a personal connection with the charity - many of her fellow explorers have experienced the heartache of slowly losing their loved ones to forms of dementia too.

The nine fit charity walkers will climb the summits of the 1,344m Ben Nevis, in Scotland, the 978m Scafell Pike, in London, and the 1085m Snowdon, in Wales, in as close to 24 hours as possible.

Feeling mixed emotions the day before the challenge, the group have already managed to receive online donations of £4,667.

With 25 miles of walking and over 450 miles of driving during the 24 hours, it's a tough challenge.

Alzheimers affects over 800,000 people in the UK alone and dementia costs Britain's economy £27,647 every year.

Yet only £50m is being invested in dementia research, compared to £590m per year on cancer research.

Money raised from the challenge will help with research in the area and to help others who suffer with it in the future as well as to support people who suffer with it now and their families.

Miss Duddy added: “I have never done anything like this before so this is going to be a whopper of a challenge!”

justgiving.com/adashforcash.