SAFETY workwear firm Wasp Industrial Services plans to donate 10 per cent of takings in April to help two students complete the challenge of a lifetime.

Cerianne Pidgeon and her partner, James Whelan, are planning to climb the highest mountain in Africa to raise money for Practical Action, a charity which helps Third World countries to help themselves.

But before they climb Kilimanjaro in September they each need to raise £2,850.

Cerianne, 21, from Nythe said: “Practical Action is about helping Third World countries help themselves. It’s about teaching them the skills they need, like financial skills, technological skills. It’s all about coming up with practical solutions to problems.

“The charity uses technology to help suffering people in poverty-stricken places. They develop practical and sustainable resources to provide water and sanitation, food and agriculture, modern energy and more.”

Cerianne decided to get involved with the challenge, which will take place in September this year, after hearing about it from her peers at the University of Portsmouth.

She said: “I think it’s a great cause because it’s about offering permanent solutions.

“It’s also something that I also really wanted to do.

“So far we have done lots of fundraising as a group, and we went up to London as part of that as well.”

When Cerianne’s mum, Elaine Clements, who owns Wasp Industrial Services in the Kingsdown Industrial Estate, found out that Cerianne was going to give the challenge a go, she decided to support her by donating 10 per cent of the shop’s takings throughout April to the cause.

Elaine, also from Nythe, said: “She’s always on the go. She is always wanting to do new things and try new things, and I am so proud of her and I want to help her where I can.

“She’s a student and many of her fundraising efforts, like travelling up to London, come out of her own pocket even before she does any fundraising.

“I just thought that 10 per cent of April’s shop takings might help her a bit, rather than just giving her a donation, and would make it more interesting.”

To help Cerianne reach her goals, sponsor her through her Virgin Giving Page at www.virginmoneygiving.com/CeriannePidgeon.

For more information about Practical Action, visit practicalaction.org.

To find out more about WASP Industrial Services, visit: www.waspindustrialservicesltd.com.