A KIND-HEARTED charity worker is on top of the world after helping to raise £170,000 for street children.

Railway Children events manager Katie Mason who lives in Beeston climbed 19,336ft to the top of Africa’s Kilimanjaro.

She followed in the footsteps of celebrities such as Gary Barlow, Cheryl Cole and Chris Moyles who trekked to the summit last year.

Katie took on the challenge to raise money for the Sandbach-based Railway Children cause, which provides food, shelter, clothing, counselling, healthcare and education to more than 25,000 street children across the world.

She joined 25 senior rail executives on the eight-day mountain climb, who between them raised £170,000.

After the climb the group visited a Railway Children project in Tanzania to learn about the charity and how the sponsorship money will be spent.

Katie said: “It was an amazing experience and one of the hardest but rewarding things I have done.

“Best of all was taking everyone to see one of the projects that our fundraising will benefit.

“Those kids need help and everyone who helped make the climb happen should be proud.

“The money raised by the group will make such a difference to the work we do to ultimately save children’s lives in the UK, India and Africa.

“Across Tanzania about 20,000 children find themselves living alone on the streets.

“Abandoned by their families or orphaned, they are forced into crime, drugs and exploitation.”

If you are interested in climbing Kilimanjaro for Railway Children, telephone Katie Mason on 01270 757596 or log on to www.railwaychildren.org.uk.