A young mountaineer braved blizzards and knee deep snow to trek to Everest Base Camp in memory of her friend.

Fawn Nicholl, 25, who lives in Berwick Road in Borehamwood, completed the two week walk last month, raising £750 for Macmillan nurses.

She chose the charity after her friend Sarah Bennett died of cancer in August aged 32. She had fought the disease for three years and raised thousands for cancer charities.

Miss Nicholl, who fell in love with Nepal on previous visits, completed the trek alone, accompanied only by a local guide who spoke little English.

Following cyclones in China, the weather conditions on the mountain were the worst they had been since 1992, meaning Miss Nicoll was trapped for a week at Everest Base Camp as no helicopter could land to get her down.

She eventually had to brave the difficult conditions and trek down herself.

Speaking of her experiences, Miss Nicholl said: “The trek itself was amazing. It was mentally rather than physically hard.

“When times got tough there was no one there to motivate me, or encourage me. I had to rely on myself to find the will to go on.

“It was testing in every way.”

She said her friend Ms Bennett had been one of her main inspirations when she found things difficult.

She added: “I told Sarah about my trip over the summer and she was so excited, but she died before I set off. I was thinking of her a lot, there was no way I was going to give up.”

Miss Nicholl also raised £380, which will be split between Noah’s Ark Playscheme, with which her brother, who has Asperger syndrome, is involved and Hemel Hempsted music charity 4AM.

She said: “Both these organisations have helped my brother. Hopefully the money will help Noah’s Ark buy some toys and other new things for the disabled children to play with.”

The young designer is now back home and feeling good after her trek.

She said she enjoyed the time walking alone and felt privileged to see the snow covered mountain in all its beauty.

She added: “I wouldn’t have done it in company. Climbing alone has given me great mental strength. If I can do this I can do anything.

“And as for next year’s challenge, maybe I’ll try the summit.”