The claim of hospital dietician Kath Jones that it is really hard in this world to do something that's unique is food for thought. So, as we report on page three, with husband Steve and a team of adventurers Kath is off to attempt to conquer the Place of the Dead.

Its proper name is Low's Gully, in the remote jungle of northern Borneo, one of the world's great remaining unexplored territories.

Kath says descending into the gully will be a test of human endeavour and the thought of just looking around the corner at something no one has ever seen before is fantastic. We wish them well in their great adventure.

As they prepare for the trip, others in this area are facing challenges equally important to them.

For example, the struggle to raise cash to send cancer sufferer Coreena Done to Mexico to try an alternative therapy in a bid to beat the disease. This week she became a grandmother - one of her last wishes. Our hearts go out to Coreena and her loved ones.

Then there's community centre worker Jeff Bennett, who will lose his job in April. He is trying to rally Woodhouse and Springbank residents to save the centre. He warns that there will be no last minute change of heart by Bradford council over its decision to cut funding. The great adventure for residents is to step forward and join volunteers and run the centre.

Another 'mountain' to climb is to make an anti-fouling campaign work. Council officials are drawing up plans which include wardens in plain clothes going undercover.

Borneo's Low's Gully is said to contain some of the worst 'biting and sucking creatures' on earth. They are more acceptable and less offensive than creatures on our own doorsteps who take their animals out and deliberately allow them to foul public places.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.