A daily reporter will be putting her best foot forward in May as she goes east for her newspaper’s hospice appeal.

The Leicester Mercury’s Gemma Peplow, left, is planning to walk a 120km section of the Great Wall of China with her sister for the daily’s Loros Appeal.

Launched in November, the Northcliffe title is calling on its readers to raise £450,000 needed to complete the financing of a new £2m extension.

Around 2,500 people benefit from the hospice’s services each year and the new extension, which opened in October, is providing 11 extra single-bedded rooms meaning greater privacy for patients receiving care.

Gemma has been leading the appeal from the start and has now decided it is her turn to do her bit to boost the fundraising total which recently passed the £140,000 mark.

The duo have set themselves a personal target of £5,300 and donations currently sit at over £1,800.

The nine-day trek starts on 8 May and Gemma has already started fundraising activities ahead of the walk including a fundraising dinner party, courtesy of her mother’s culinary skills.

Gemma said: “As the reporter in charge of our fundraising campaign, I spoke to patients, relatives, staff and volunteers and wrote stories about the charity’s work.

“I had visited the hospice a couple of times before we started our appeal but I really got to know the staff and learn about the invaluable service they provide.

“In almost every story I wrote, the person I interviewed – whether it was a patient battling cancer or a grieving relative – would say they couldn’t speak highly enough of Loros and that ‘nothing is too much trouble’ for staff.

“The response from readers was, and continues to be, incredible.”