TWO Huddersfield students will take on their biggest challenge to date, when they attempt to climb Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, this summer.

Former Huddersfield New College students Greg Newton and Rachel Humphries aim to reach the 19,000 foot summit during a seven-day trek in August.

But first Greg and Rachel, who are both 20, need to raise £4,800 between them to fund the expedition which is raising money for the charity Childreach International.

The friends, who are both studying at Northumbria University, Greg in public relations and communications and Rachel in fashion design, have organised an event in Huddersfield as part of their fundraising.

A Charity Band Night, featuring locally renowned band The Nerds who will be playing pop and rock classics from the last 40 years is being held at the St Patrick’s Centre, on Saturday June 4 from 8pm till late. There will also be a raffle.

Greg, who is from Newsome said: “We both took part in a college exchange programme in 2008 while studying at Huddersfield New College and went to Tanzania for a month, then welcomed Tanzanian students to come and live with us in England for a month.

“It was on that exchange we both realised a lot could be done to improve the education and healthcare systems in Tanzania, and when the opportunity arose at University to travel to Tanzania again and contribute to improving such things, we both found it impossible to decline.

“We are both under intense training programmes in preparation, and just hope we wont be affected too much by altitude sickness.”

People can securely donate money to their charity online if they are not able to attend the night at:

www.virginmoneygiving.com/gregs-climbing-kili

www.virginmoneygiving.com/RachelHumphries