WHEN nurse Karenza Pitman lost her mother to cancer last year, she knew she wanted to do something to prevent others losing such an important person in their lives.

But while walking the Great Wall of China would be enough of a fundraising challenge for some people, Karenza and friend Kate Gannon also plan to throw themselves out of a plane at 100,000ft with colleague Becky Day, 23, complete a host of half marathons and throw a charity ball – all in memory of brave Chris Chambers.

“My mum bore cancer with a smile and a giggle right until the end,” said Karenza, a staff nurse at Great Western Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.

“Most people who met her would never have known she was suffering and I think that made a big difference to her life, her positivity gave her more time with us.”

Chris was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and, despite enduring chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, cycle after cycle of gruelling radiotherapy and finally a catalogue of experimental drug trials, the disease reached her lungs and her brain and she died on December 14, 2009 surrounded by her family. She was just 51.

Karenza, 24, and Kate, 26, have now begun fundraising efforts to raise the £2,500 needed to take part in the trek along the Great Wall of China in September next year.

“But we don’t just want to raise that,” said Kate. “We want to raise much more so that we aren’t simply funding the challenge but we are making a sizeable donation to Breast Cancer Research as well.

Karenza said: “We’re really looking forward to the experience.

“But we want to raise as much money as possible so we have set ourselves a target of double the trek fee so we’ll be making a large contribution to the cause.”

The pair have also begun plans to plan a Touch Of Pink Charity Ball at the Marriott Hotel in Pipers Way this autumn.

The ball, which includes a three-course meal, raffle and entertainment, costs £40 a head and starts at 7pm on October 1.

“My mum loved dressing up and going out and I wanted to do something special in her memory so this seemed like a good idea,” said Karenza.

“Pink is the signature colour of the Breast Cancer Campaign so it seemed appropriate to ask guests to reflect that in what they wear.”

One of the scariest challenges that lies ahead is the parachute jump in aid of Dorothy House Hospice near Bath where Chris spent her final weeks.

The girls have not booked the leap yet but may brave unlucky date Friday 13 in August to complete the dare-devil stunt.

“We’re not sure how we feel about that yet,” said Karenza. “I’d like to say I chucked myself out of a plane – on Friday 13th of all days –but I don’t know if I can bring myself to do it.”

To contribute to Karenza, Kate and Becky’s fundraising efforts, donate raffle prizes or to buy tickets for the Touch Of Pink Ball, call Kate on 07514 542406 or Karenza on 07711 994898.