TWO friends will be embarking on fundraising challenges that will take them to the Great Wall of China and Rwanda.

Lucy Nicholas, from Redlynch, and Rachel Scott, from Teffont, have been busy preparing for their very different challenges.

Lucy will be walking the Great Wall of China in aid of the UCL Amyloidosis Research Fund. Amyloidosis is a degenerative disease that has personally affected her husband.

“I’ve always wanted to see the Great Wall of China and want to raise lots of money for the charity," she said.

"I haven't done anything like this before. I am pleased and proud to be raising money for amyloidosis as it is such an awful disease."

She added: "I hope that whatever I can raise via Just Giving and my challenge will go some way to helping the scientists develop a drug [to treat the disease] sooner rather than later."

Rachel will be cycling for four days in Rwanda from Kigali to Congo through the “Land of a Thousand Hills” for Hopes and Homes for Children.

She will be travelling 143 miles over four days, with an average climb of 3,200 ft (1000m) each day.

“Despite lots of training, I am feeling excited but completely daunted by the trip. I have never done anything like this before and am finding the training extremely challenging,” she said.

“One of things I am looking forward to most is seeing the ‘real’ Rwanda and not just the touristy bits. However, on our final day in Rwanda we shall be visiting one of Hope and Hopes for Children’s projects and we shall be able to meet some of the children they have helped and see how the money we have raised will be used. That for me, will be the highlight of the trip.”

By coincidence, the two friends will be setting off on their individual charity challenges on the same day, September 16.

To sponsor Rachel go to justgiving.com/fundraising/rachel-scott16 and to make a donation to support Lucy go to justgiving.com/fundraising/lucynicholas.