A MEDICAL secretary whose 21-year-old son died in a car crash is to climb Ben Nevis to say thank you to a counselling charity which supported her after her tragic loss.

Maureen Harris, 54, who works at St Luke's dermatology department, said she had been on the phone day and night to SCARD (Support and Care After Road Death and Injury) after her son Robert died 15 years ago when his friend lost control of the Peugeot car he was a passenger in.

He suffered multiple injuries when the car spun out of control and hit a tree at the side of Harrogate Road near Greengates in Bradford.

In memory of Robert, Mrs Harris, of Drighlington, will take on the challenge - all 1,343 metres of it - with her work colleague Diane Todd, 49, on September 12 this year and hopes people will sponsor them.

Mrs Todd, of Sandy Lane, is scaling Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands for MIND, the mental health charity.

The pair have been encouraging each other to get fit and came up with the ten-mile trek and climb as a personal goal - as well as a way of raising money for causes close to their hearts.

Mrs Harris, who has been walking the six miles to and from work as part of her training, said : “SCARD gave me lots of support when Robert died. I was referred to them by the police and initially I was on the phone to them day and night.

“I have been thinking about doing a fundraising event for SCARD ever since I lost Robert and the 15th anniversary of his death seemed to me like a good time to do it.

"I’ve also been trying to get fit recently and have lost nearly a stone through walking and swimming, so when Diane suggested that we do a charity challenge together, that was it."

She added: "SCARD is a small charity and it relies on the generosity of donations to survive, so I hope that by doing my bit, I will be giving something back for the help and support it's given me over the years.”

Mrs Todd said: “We haven’t set a target, we are just hoping to raise as much as money we can.

" I’ve chosen MIND as my charity because there’s been a lot of press about mental health not receiving a lot of funding.

"I have a few friends who have suffered from depression and anxiety, so I want to increase awareness about the importance of support for people with mental health issues.

"The trail to the summit will be strenuous and we’ll need to call on all the stamina and determination we have to reach the summit but we hope that when we get there we will be rewarded with breath-taking views.”

To sponsor Mrs Harris go to justgiving.com/mysonrobert and to sponsor Mrs Todd visit virginmoneygiving.com/toddatbennevis