AN estate agent is swapping the property ladder for the dizzying height of Mount Kilimanjaro in memory of her mum.

Stacey Kirkpatrick is hoping to raise £10,000 for the charity MND Scotland, which funds research and raises awareness of Motor Neurone Disease to mark the 10 years since her mum Gerry Kerr died, aged 61, from the disease.

The mum-of-two will fly to Tanzania in East Africa in September and despite having already raise £6,500 is hoping to reach the target before she goes.

The 37-year-old mother of two said: "As it was the 10th year since my mum passed away I decided I wanted to do something special."

Mrs Kerr lived in Edinburgh and her daughter chose the Scottish MND as it helped her mother and family.

She also wants to raise awareness of the disease.

She added: "She was diagnosed in June 2004 when we noticed her speech was getting slurred and we were told the life expectancy was two to three years but she died three months later."

Mrs Kirkpatrick of Rivington Street, Howe Bridge, who is mum to 13-year-old Caitlin and Cameron, aged 10, says the money will go towards a lightwriter which allowed her mum to continue talking by typing.

"There isn't much research but 100 years ago they didn't have cures for many things — someone somewhere will be able to find a cure," she said.

To sponsor her or to find out more, visit justgiving.com/Stacey-Kirkpatrick/.