AN INTREPID Sandbach woman has conquered Africa’s highest peak to raise cash for charity.

Leila Atlasi, 27, completed the once-in-a-lifetime trek to Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to raise thousands of pounds for the Alzheimer’s Society.

The former Sandbach Girls School pupil had her sights set on the mammoth challenge since she first climbed Mount Kenya during a school trip to Kenya ten years ago.

The dream became reality for Leila when she teamed up with an organised expedition team to climb the gigantic peak over ten days which began on February 2.

Leila braved some extreme weather during her challenge ranging from tropical desert conditions to ice caves.

She said: “It was definitely an amazing experience but the night we got up to the summit can only be described as the best and worst day of my life so far.

“But I made it back from my trek in one piece and have just about recovered now! This was something I’d been waiting to do for ten years since I first climbed Mount Kenya.”

Leila, a former learner mentor at South Cheshire College, self-funded the trip and has so far managed to raise £69,000.