A SENIOR detective from Avon and Somerset Police is preparing in training as she prepares to climb Mount Kilimanjaro later this month.

DCI Leanne Pook, the force and regional lead for female genitalia mutilation (FGM), is completing the climb to raise money for the Divinity Foundation, a charity running rescue centre in Kenya which cares for girls saved from FGM and child marriage.

She will also be spending five days after the climb volunteering at the centre, which is only a few miles from the mountain’s base.

The detective said: “This centre is a haven for children who are orphaned or have been rescued from FGM and child marriage.

“This place doubtless saves the lives of some young girls and allows them to achieve their full potential. At the centre they’re safe, receive an education and learn to be self-sufficient. 

“We’ll also be visiting communities where FGM is still practised to raise awareness and understand more about the barriers which prevent this awful practice from being consigned to the past.”

As part of a gruelling training regime to prepare for the climb, Leanne managed the impressive feat of climbing to the peak of Mount Snowden twice in one day.

“Having signed up to the climb quite late in the day, I’ve had to work hard to catch up on the training. This has involved climbing Snowdon twice in one day, the second time overnight in the pouring rain, clinging onto a rock face in 50mph gales and more recently buying an oxygen restriction mask, to develop lung capacity to cope with the reduced levels on Kilimanjaro.

“My daily steps total is usually around 6,000 - I did 61,500 during the Snowdon climbs. Much as going up is getting easier, my knees really object to the coming back down.”

To follow Leanne’s progress, follow her on Twitter @ASPEndFGM and do sponsor her, visit https://www.goldengiving.com/fundraising/LeanneAgainstFGM