A MATHS student from Woolston has swapped her calculator for a pair of hiking boots after signing up to a mammoth charity trek in Peru.

Danielle Roberts, of Mulberry Close, is aiming to raise £2,850 for the Meningitis Trust with a sponsored hike to world heritage site Machu Picchu.

The University of Nottingham student saw the effect of meningitis as a five-year-old, when a fellow pupil at Woolston Community Primary School died from the illness.

“Although I was really young at the time I remember how it was such a big thing for everyone at the school and how it happened so suddenly,” she said.

“When I saw the trek advertised at university I just thought it looked like a really good opportunity.”

The 18-year-old begins her 10-day adventure in the town of Cusco on August 30, and will reach altitudes of 4,650 metres before arriving at the famous ‘City of the Incas’.

Memories from the death of her schoolfriend have provided extra motivation for Danielle, who is training every day at the gym and has been hiking in the Lake District.

She said: “The closer it gets the more nervous I am. I’m just scared in case I can’t finish it.”

Danielle has already raised £1,139 and is determined to reach her target.

She added: “To reach £2,850 would be amazing, it’s such a big target and speaking to the people at the Meningitis Trust I know what it would mean to them.”

l Anyone wishing to donate should visit uk.virginmoneygiving. com/DanielleRoberts1