Sharon’s Inca gold...

Sharon Thompson

bank worker from Greenfield is feeling on top of the world after tackling Peruvian peaks to raise more than £3,000 for charity.

Sharon Thompson took on the challenge of trekking the Inca Trail to the Lost City of Machu Picchu to raise money for Action Medical Research.

The charity funds research into a wide range of disease affecting both children and adults, and pioneered the sugar cube treatment which defends children against polio.

Sharon (47), a credit documenter for the Royal Bank of Scotland, joined a group of almost 50 trekkers to follow the demanding trail through mountain passes 13,500ft high.

The route took her up and down hundreds of ancient steps, through dense cloud forests and sub-tropical vegetation, to reach the Lost City of the Incas.

Sharon said: “The highlight of the trek was finally arriving at the Sun Gate, overlooking the Inca city.

“The sense of achievement was amazing, but it was also so pleasing to know that as well as having the experience of a lifetime I was helping to raise funds for such a good cause.”

Jo Pickard, head of national events at Action Medical Research, said: “We’re so proud of all our trekkers.

“Their fantastic fund raising efforts will enable us to support vital work that could help cure or treat conditions that devastate the lives of many thousands of babies and children and their families.

“We are now on the hunt for some more amazing people to join our next Peru trek in June next year.”

Anyone interested in following in Sharon’s footsteps can sign up now for the next trek, which will run from June 20-29.

Action Medical Research is also looking for people to walk the Great Wall of China from September 6-15. For more information visit the website, www.action.org.uk, or call 0870 333 1662.