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Worcester Evening News education correspondent Alison Fraser recently returned from Borneo, where she completed a 45 mile trek in the Malaysian state of Sabah.
Braving virgin jungle and intense humidity, she was part of a group raising money for the Acorns Children's Hospice's Three Counties Appeal. Here, she reveals how they got on...

"Jalan jalan!" Walk, walk, the guides shouted to the mass of sweaty trekkers, eager to get on with the day's trail.

The heat was rising to hotter than body temperature and the sweat was sliding down everyone's backs.

Water supplies had been distributed, bootlaces tied, insect repellent and suncream liberally applied and all that was stopping the Acorns fundraisers was the breath-taking views.

The challenge was to successfully complete 45 miles of treks in the Malaysian state of Sabah on the island of Borneo. It was to traverse jungle, hill tracks, wobbly bridges and steep climbs.

The state is home to orang utans, Sumatran rhinos, proboscis monkeys, spiders, insects and poisonous snakes.

It is also the home of South East Asia's highest peak, Mount Kinabalu, which would dominate the views surrounding the trek.

The Three Counties Appeal made itself known in Malaysia, much to the amusement of the locals.

Squeals accompanied the following morning's breakfast of noodles and eggs when the first insect encounter was experienced - how on earth were we to cope with a night in the depths of the jungle?

An acclimatisation walk through the national park put paid to any doubts in the guides' minds.

Despite soaring temperatures almost as steep as the hills the team kept together, keeping everyone's spirits high.

Zig-zagging up the hill a caterpillar of trekkers headed for one of the viewing points. Gasps at the amazement of it all were suddenly rudely interrupted by shrieks below on the path.

"Get it off, get it off" I yelled, as I shook my leg frantically trying to escape the wrath of an angry jungle wasp I had the misfortune of meeting.

One sting and a run up the hill later I was the first casualty of the team doctor. Still, it couldn't stop me admiring the view and getting back to the task in hand.

The challenge began in earnest the next morning, walking down a steep road to a village school amid scenes from Platoon with schoolchildren rushing to say hello.

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