From the comforts of a showhome to the unknown territory of the frozen wilderness of the arctic, Inverness-based Sales Advisor Roma McIntosh battled the treacherous conditions to raise funds for Highland Hospice.

The Highland Hospice is an independent local charity reliant on its community for the majority of its funding, requiring a staggering £7000 each day to support the delivery of their services across the Highlands.

Roma, and friend Amanda, said: "We, like many of you, have seen friends lose loved ones from cancer and have seen the pain and suffering endured. Cancer touches us all in different ways. The Highland Hospice offers terminally ill patients and their families the best possible care and support, helping improve their quality of life.

"These last months during the Covid-19 pandemic have brought home to us how short life is and how quickly time passes. This has had a sobering effect on us and has made us begin to do things that push us out of our comfort zone. Taking part in this tough but amazing "hands-on" wilderness challenge, in aid of the Highland Hospice, will certainly do that."

Roma and Amanda navigated over 260km of Lapland through Norway to Sweden, caring for their team of huskies, cooking their own food, setting up camp in temperatures of -25c, with no showering facilities and the toilet being behind a nearby tree.

Baldow Meadows Sales Advisor, Roma, continued: "It was an amazing, wonderful experience, it at times pushed me well out with my comfort zone, never before have I slept in a tent in -25c.

"A combination of tent and cabin accommodation, which both had their challenges, as well as it being mind-numbingly cold.

"However, the scenery was breathtaking, the people fabulous and for a dog lover it was like dying and going to heaven, there were 90 of them at base camp.

"There were 11 of us on the trip and we all had to work as a team, erecting tents, feeding dogs, poo picking, getting water, cooking. It really was just beyond fantastic."

Nearly £18,000 has been raised so far, with donations still open on Roma and Amanda's JustGiving page.

You can donate here.