AN INTREPID team sets off today (Thursday October 13) on an expedition to Mount Everest - the latest undertaking in memory of Steve Prescott.

Among the 40 climbers journeying to Nepal's Everest base camp - and beyond - are Steve's widow Linzi and his 15-year-old son Taylor Prescott.

Ahead of the mammoth challenge, Linzi told the Star she that though she was "more than a little apprehensive", she would be putting her "heart and soul" into the trek.

The group, which also includes Emmerdale actor Mike Parr and a number of former rugby league players, is hoping to raise at least £150,000 for the Steve Prescott Foundation (SPF), bringing the charity's fundraising total past the million-pound milestone.

Linzi said: "We fly from Manchester via Istanbul and spend one night in Kathmandu before taking an internal flight to Lukla in the mountains.

"Taylor and I are most apprehensive about the journey - as the internal flight has an uphill landing.

"Taylor is not at all fazed by the climb. For me, it's out of my comfort zone - I'm not sporty so it's a real challenge."

She added: "It's uncanny - we start the trek on October 15 which will be the three-year anniversary of the day Steve got his donor and went in for transplant. Just like on that day, it's going to be mixed emotions for us - nerves and excitement."

Knowing they are doing it for Steve will be their motivation, she said: "Steve always talked about Everest and the year he had the transplant he was supposed to be doing Kilimanjaro, but wasn't allowed to.

"Me and Taylor will take some of the Kilimanjaro equipment he didn't get to use with us to Everest. We will think of him every step of the way up - that will get us to the top."

She said: "We'll be going higher than base camp, to the peak of Kala Patthar - at around 5,640 metres - where we will have spectacular views of the summit.

"It takes us eight or nine days to reach that point - and then it's three days down."

"We'll be carrying four litres of water each a day, all our own snacks, a change of clothes, waterproofs, and so on.

"We'll sleep in sleeping bags in little tea houses all the way up - they are very basic but it's a roof over our heads."

As for training, she said: "Our main worry is the altitude. We've been in altitude chambers as part of our training but you don't know how your body is going to react to it.

"Me and Taylor have been getting up every morning at 6am and doing a one-hour power-walk with backpacks on. And we've been working with a personal trainer three or four times a week.

"We've been doing free weights, circuit training and wearing backpacks on the Stairmaster.

"We've also been eating four or five meals a day as our metabolisms have sped up.

"I'm feeling fitter and more confident now and I'll be putting my heart and soul into it."

The ex-rugby league players on the trip are Lee Briers, Barrie McDermott, Alan Hunte, Chico Jackson, Mike Wainwright, Ade Gardner, Iestyn Harris and Neil Harmon.

The party returns to the UK on October 28.

To donate to Linzi and Taylor's fundraising page, go to justgiving.com/linzitaylor.