BBC RADIO Suffolk star Lesley Dolphin is gearing up for the challenge of a lifetime to raise �30,000 towards a new children's hospice.The daytime presenter will join a team of eight other volunteers to climb almost 6,000 meters to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of the East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) Treehouse Appeal.

BBC RADIO Suffolk star Lesley Dolphin is gearing up for the challenge of a lifetime to raise �30,000 towards a new children's hospice.

The daytime presenter will join a team of eight other volunteers to climb almost 6,000 meters to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of the East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) Treehouse Appeal.

Lesley, 53, said: “Hospices are fantastic places and I couldn't believe we haven't got anything equivalent for children.

“I keep asking people to donate to the appeal so I wanted to do my bit.”

EACH hopes to raise �3 million to build a state-of-the-art hospice for life-threatened children in quiet woodland off Bixley Road in Ipswich by the New Year.

The service currently operates from a four-bedroom bungalow in Walker Close, Ipswich, which has just one bathroom and limited space for families of sick children to stay overnight.

When built, the new complex will have en-suite accommodation for families of life-threatened children and specialist rooms for hydro and physio therapy.

Thanks to overwhelming support, the campaign total has topped �160,000 since it launched just three weeks ago.

The group will tackle the World's tallest, free-standing mountain in the 10-day challenge in January next year.

“I like to test myself but I've never done anything as physically demanding as this before,” she said. “If I can drive past the new hospice and think I did my little bit, it will be lovely.”

Lesley agreed to the arduous challenge after her friend Steve Flory, of Ipswich-based company Hudson Signs, talked the presenter into taking part after a few glasses of wine during a Sunday lunch.

The team, which includes Steve's wife, Jayne, Mark Loades from EACH, David Rowledge, Ray Walters, John Button, Will Leith and Glenys Carter will now embark on a rigorous training schedule to prepare them for the gruelling demands of the daunting climb.

To sponsor the team, visit www.justgiving.com/kilimanjaroforthetreehouseappeal