WHEN Maria Michalopoulou packed her rucksack ready to tackle the challenge of a lifetime, she included two special items from a Bicester primary school.
They were a well-travelled teddy bear called Curly and a banner picturing pupils from Glory Farm School, off Sunderland Drive.
Miss Michalopoulou, 33, is doing a charity trek to Everest base camp in aid of the British Heart Foundation.
The 33-year-old made contact with the school before she left to get some help with her fundraising target of £3,500.
Not only did pupils step up to the challenge, they also made a banner showing Miss Michalopoulou they will be with her in spirit on the trek.
Miss Michalopoulou, of Lancaster Close, Bicester, plans to display the banner at Everest base camp and will pose in front of it for photographs.
Miss Michalopoulou works for Skills for Sudan, which trains people in southern Sudan to help rebuild their lives after years of civil war.
She said: “I wanted to do something like a marathon or sky diving but Everest caught my eye.”
To sponsor her, go to the website original.
justgiving.com/mariamichalopoulou
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here