A SIXTH-FORMER at The Whitby High School doesn’t do things by halves – when she sets herself a challenge she tackles it head on and takes her dad along as well.

Lauren Darch, a Year 12 student, decided to raise money to support her school’s ‘AfriTwin’ fund, which supports a disadvantaged school in a township near Johannesburg.

To raise money, Lauren gained sponsorship from family and friends for her and her dad, Lee Darch to climb The Three Peaks – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon.

If that wasn’t enough of a challenge they aimed to complete it in 24 hours.

On Sunday, August 21, Lauren and Lee headed for the mountains taking three-and-a-half hours to scale Ben Nevis, four hours for Scafell Pike and three-and-a-half hours to master Snowdon. They walked 24 miles and did 10,000ft of ascent and 450 miles of driving – all in 22 hours and 30 minutes.

Lauren said: “My legs were extremely tired for a few days but other than that I felt absolutely fine.”

By completing the mammoth challenge, Lauren and Lee raised £942 toward the ‘AfriTwin’ fund to support the South African School.

Bryn Heeley , headteacher of The Whitby High School, said: “I am in awe of Lauren and her father for completing this gruelling challenge to support such a good course and thank them unreservedly for the donation to the ‘AfriTwin’ fund.

“£942 will enable us to do a great deal of good work for the students of the South African school.”