Girl, 10, to climb highest mountain in dad's memory

Isabella, 10, says she is looking forward to a steak once she completes the climb

A 10-year-old girl plans to climb England's highest mountain in memory of her father, who died of cancer.

Isabella, from Guernsey, plans to climb Scafell Pike with her mother and uncle to raise money for Les Bourgs Hospice, which looked after her father Stephen during his latter stages of his illness.

She said: "That's where he died and they were really nice and they gave me free pizza.

"My dad was planning [to climb] it before he died but we never got round to it because we didn't have much time, so we've decided to do it now."

Isabella's father, Stephen, died of cancer in October, aged 55

At 978m (3,209ft), Scafell Pike, in the Lake District, is England's highest mountain.

Isabella set her fundraising total at £1,000 but has already surpassed that amount.

She said: "I feel like I'm rich because I see this money coming in. But I'm not, because I'm giving it away."

Fundraising administrator, Liz Stonebridge, said "All of the team at the hospice are really grateful to Isabella.

"We're in awe of what she's doing.

"I think for an adult to take on that challenge would be amazing, but a 10-year-old is extra special."

Isabella said nerves and excitement had set in and were keeping her awake at night as she worried about injuries stopping her from completing the challenge.

Isabella is planning to reward herself after the climb with a steak.

She said: "I wanted my uncle Ben to cook me a steak at the top but he didn't agree.

"So, I don't get steak at the top of Scafell Pike, but I get to have one at the bottom because we've found a pub and I'm going to make him pay for a meal."

The family plans to climb the mountain on 9 July.