A determined St Albans mum is climbing five mountains in just one day next week to raise money for a special-needs school’s disability playground.

Debbie Dorman and her friend, Surinder Bhatia, will climb five Lake District peaks on May 13 - Crinkle Crags, Bow Fell, Esk Pike, Great End, and the highest mountain in England, Scafell Pike.

That adds up to about 14 miles and 3,000 feet.

She is hoping to raise as much as she can towards disability swings, roundabout, and zip wire for St Luke’s School, which is in Redbourn.

In total the specialist equipment will cost about £8,000, and Debbie is hopeful she can make a sizeable dent in the figure.

She said: “It is a very small school and the PTA are doing fantastic job raising the money, but it’s very expensive.

“It could take years and years and years to raise enough money, so I thought I will kick start the whole thing.”

Debbie’s 12 year old daughter Jess, who goes to St Luke’s, has a rare syndrome where sugar is not retained in her blood, causing epilepsy and learning difficulties.

If money could be raised for the new apparatus Debbie said the children “would be ecstatic, they really would”.

“They are great children, really great, full of imagination a lot of the time, and they should be encouraged to do new things and practice balance and be brave.” Nervous children can build confidence while playing, she said.

Debbie has been training on Dunstable Downs and is hoping for good weather - if it is “the pictures would be stunning, absolutely stunning”.

“It’s a challenge, they call it a challenge and it has to be. This is something completely different.”

Joking, she added: “I have not got the Lake district in my area.”

The walk is run by Charity Challenge, a company which help to organise difficult sports tasks by which people can fundraise for a chosen charity.

St Luke’s is for nine to 16-year-olds with learning difficulties, including children with autism and speech, language and communication needs.

To sponsor Debbie, click here.