A MUM who climbed her own mountain and came out the other side is encouraging other women to do the same.

Last summer, ten women were chosen from Cox Automotive to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Staff member Gillian Bowen, from Colchester, ended up being one of them.

Her determination came after the death of her sister, Laura, who had always been her number one fan.

Ms Bowen said: “It was something way out of my comfort zone.

“I was going though a difficult time and this was something I had never done before.

“My sister was one of the people who got behind me.”

Each entrant had to submit a video about why they should be chosen and what they could bring to the team.

In July her workplace announced the top ten. She did not make it in, but was picked as a reserve.

Her sister, however, had other ideas.

Gillian, 39, said: “I remember coming home and telling my sister I didn’t get in.

“My sister laughed, she kept telling me she had a strange feeling I was going to do it.”

In August, Laura, who was battling with a mental health condition, sadly died - she was 41.

Just when she thought her life had turned upside down, Gillian got a call in November saying she had been accepted in the top ten for the Kilimanjaro trek.

She said: “They asked me if I needed time to think it through but I didn’t need to give it a second thought, I said I would do it as I know Laura is right behind me.

“We were so close and she would just be so proud.”

She was set a challenge of raising £1,500 and has already smashed her target, raising about £2,800.

Cox Automotive has agreed to pay the other £1,500.

She said: “I think that’s because it’s so out of my comfort zone.

“It’s been quite a challenge as it has not been the easiest year.

“I’m obviously grieving a lot at the moment but this is something to focus on.”

Her children Gabriella, 12, and Rhys, nine, are also spurring her on.

The 39-year-old added: “Gabriella was saying I must do it, they think it’s pretty cool.

“I’m 40 this year so that was another motivator, I thought what better way to mark my birthday?”

She will begin the climb on Saturday.

It will then take eight days, during which time she’ll be sleeping in tents on the side of the mountain in temperatures as low as -20 degrees celcius.

The Kilimanjaro challenge was set by Women With Drive (WWD).

The group believes in inspiring women to connect and succeed in the automotive industry.

Ms Bowen said: “I want to show women we can all work full-time and be a role model to their children.

“I want Gabriella to look at me and say: ‘I’m really proud of my mum.’

“With what happened to my sister, this is something to aim for as I want to make her proud too.”

She is nervous but excited for the big challenge, but is pleased she will have a guide to help her along the way.

She has been training by walking more than seven miles from her home to work, which takes her two hours.

Through the challenge she is also raising money for rugby children’s charity Wooden Spoon.

Staff at Manheim Colchester, her workplace, are dressing in sports gear on Thursday morning to raise money and awareness.

Visit www.gofundme.com/gillian-bowen to sponsor Gillian ahead of the trek.