Sue Day in action for England

Former England Women’s Captain Sue Day is embarking on a new type of challenge, far away from the rugby field, by climbing Mount Everest to raise money for rugby charity Wooden Spoon.

Day, who racked up 59 caps and competed in Rugby World Cups in XVs and Sevens, has set herself the challenge of climbing to Mount Everest’s Base Camp to raise money for the charity which provides opportunities for disadvantaged children.

The 38-year-old, who has also been working with the RFUW’s Development Sevens squad, heads to the Himalayas later this month and it will take her 16 days to complete and while she is there she’ll also have to combat the evitable altitude sickness climbers’ face.

“I have been involved with Wooden Spoon for a number of years and, as a charity that provides opportunities for disadvantaged kids, it is a charity very dear to my heart,” said the former England centre/fullback. “For me it is a fantastic opportunity to set myself a new and different challenge, which I have been missing ever since I retired from international rugby in 2009, whilst at the same time raise money for a charity that I love.

“Whilst I am just looking to climb to Base Camp, it is still 5,500m high and involves about 16 days of climbing. Training has been mountain climbing and lots of steady state cardiovascular fitness work which is completely the opposite of the sort of training I used to do as a rugby player. Probably the biggest challenge will be the potential altitude sickness, but there is little training we can do to prepare for that!”

To sponsor Day and raise money for Wooden Spoon visit : http://www.justgiving.com/Sue-Day13or text EVER72 £x (substituting the x for the amount you want to sponsor) to 70070.