In just a week’s time, a couple are embarking on a charity trek through Patagonia in memory of their daughter to raise funds for Meningitis Now.

From their base in Bariloche, Argentina, Graham and Karen Morgan will make their way into the Southern Andes and ascend into one of the last remaining true wildernesses left on the planet.

The mountains and lakes that typify the landscape of this remote part of Argentina are truly spectacular and will present a very real challenge for all those involved in the trek.

The couple live in Cardiff, but Graham hails from Begelly, where his parents Jean and Hubert still live.

“On average we will be trekking for seven hours each day heading deep into the Nahuel Huapi National Park,” said Graham and Karen, whose daughter Katie sadly died in 2012, aged 18.

“We will take the opportunity to climb to the base of Mount Tronador - an extinct volcano standing at 3,545 metres and the highest mountain in the Argentinean Lake District with its spectacular glaciers.”

Since the summer of 2015, the couple have steadily worked through a progressive training programme.

They continued: “The landscape of terrain across different parts of Wales has provided a stern test - it would have certainly been more pleasurable had it been dry! We have experienced at first hand the record rainfall and we know what it feels like to walk for mile after mile in driving rain - hopefully we will not face those conditions in South America.”

And they added: “With constant advancement in medical research into Meningitis and some success in developing inoculations for certain age groups, the fight is making progress. The more folks that can be spared the experiences associated with meningitis the better. The work Meningitis Now undertake to support those families that have been impacted is exceptional and we are keen to raise as much money as possible to help them with the battle.”

To pledge sponsorship and for more details, see www.justgiving.com/karen-graham-2016/