North London mums Ilana Esptein and Lisa Simbler are preparing to trek across Romania to raise money for Aims 2 Cure.
Set up in 1999, Aims 2 Cure is a charity which raises money for research into multiple sclerosis (MS), one of the most common neurological diseases among young adults. It affects around 85,000 people in the UK and there is currently no known cure.
The woman, both on the Aims 2 Cure committee, are among 16 people taking part in the five-day trek across the the Transylvanian Alps, which begins on June 22.
They were originally supposed to be trekking across Iceland but had to rearrange because of the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano. Thirty-five year-old Mrs Epstein (below right), who has been working as television presenter Gaby Roslin's personal assistant for 10 years, tells People: "I always dealt with her charity stuff and had been to a couple of Aims 2 Cure events. I know some people who have been affected by MS and decided that I wanted to give something back."
Committee treasurer Mrs Simbler says: "My father has MS which is one of the reasons I am so passionate about what we do.
"We used to put on big annual fundraisers but as a sign of the times, we thought we should do some smaller fundraising."
The group, who have been going on three-hour training walks, are hoping to raise around £40,000. Mother-of-three Mrs Epstein adds: "I'm absolutely terrified. There's a part where you have to abseil - that's my biggest fear and what I'm most nervous about."
Mother-of-one Mrs Simbler, 43, is married to Paul Simbler, the co-owner of HOB Salons. She works for him as an area manager.
