A VERWOOD grandmother who has dedicated much of the past 20 years to raising funds for a wonderful cause has just returned from her latest trip.

Pam Smith, a mum-of-three and grandmother-of-five, took part in a challenging trek in a remote area of Patagonia in Chile to raise £5,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

She has completed a number of fundraising treks for the charity over the past two decades.

On her most recent trip, Ms Smith first journeyed to southern Chile.

She then travelled farther still in a four-wheel drive vehicle on rutted roads and dirt tracks before heading off on foot into the wilderness.

“We walked barefoot through icy, glacial rivers, climbed rickety ladders, scrambled up rockss and cut bushes with a machete to find our way up into even more remote valleys,” she said.

“We camped in the wild and ended up zip wiring across a huge, wild river.

“It was an amazing experience, during which we watched icebergs drifting on glacial lakes as blue as the sky and stood beside a glacier that was only the edge of a vast icecap.

“The most amazing thing was that we never saw another person the whole time we were walking because it was so wild.”

Ms Smith pays for her own expenses. She thanked all of those who had donated to her fundraising efforts at carnivals and fairs, as well as the talks she gives.

For more information, or to book a talk, email pamcsmith@hotmail.co.uk or call 012012 822198.