THIRTY five people aged between 27 and 81 are trekking to Machu Picchu next month to raise funds for the Stars Appeal.

The group, all from the Salisbury area, are busy training, walking for up to eight hours a day, and trying to master hills and steps.

They will spend five days trekking at altitudes up to 4,200m, camping at night and conquering the Inca Trail – a series of paths and steps through mountains and cloud forests – to reach Machu Picchu, one of the seven modern wonders of the world.

Jo Maslen from the Stars Appeal said: “All of us have or will have raised at least £1,800 for the Stars Appeal – some have raised much more.

“Our fundraising total is already over £70,000, with more than a month of fundraising to go.”

She added: “Most are fundraising for all Stars Appeal projects but some have particular reasons for choosing specific projects for example Jayne Prigent of JAS Hair for her nephew who has diabetes and two former hospital nurses for the Stars Appeal-funded Elevate and Engage projects which support elderly people and those with dementia in our hospital.

“We set off on April 29 and we are in training daily so if the Harnham steps off the Old Blandford Road seem busy with people in full trekking gear, that’ll be us.”

Ten of the determined trekkers currently work or previously worked for Salisbury District Hospital.

The eldest, Anthony Lunt, 81, from Fovant, is recently back from the Falklands and has raised a lot for the charity by asking for donations instead of birthday presents.

The trip is being organised through local adventure travel specialists Discover Adventure and is being led by local Everest summiter Jo Bradshaw.

It follows the success of 2015’s Grand Canyon trek, when 21 local people raised more than £68,000 to help people at Salisbury District Hospital.