Date of issue: 3rd July 2007

ACCOUNTANT TO SCALE MOUNT ETNA IN AID OF DEAF BLIND

Jo Watkin, a specialist in corporate finance with independent chartered accountants Clement Keys, is to climb Mount Etna to raise money in aid of SENSE, the UK's leading charity supporting people who are deaf blind.

Jo is one of 30 people going on the four-day trek up Europe's highest volcano and is bidding to raise at least £1,250 for the charity.

The Sicily trip will see Jo and her companions trek a total of 60km and is the latest in a series of challenges organised by John Crabtree, the former chairman of Wragge & Co LLP., who is a trustee of Sense.

"This is the fourth time I have taken part in one of John's treks for Sense and they are very well-supported by Birmingham's law and accountancy professionals," says Jo.

"John is very much the driving force behind these activities and carries out meticulous planning to ensure everything runs to schedule, so it is no surprise that a core group of people keep coming back for more."

After travelling to Sicily on Thursday, September 20, the group will acclimatise by spending the day trekking up the western flanks of the volcano, through birch and pine forest and over several lava flows, before they end the day on the north eastern side of Mount Etna.

On Saturday, the group will spend up to nine hours climbing to the summit of Mount Etna, enjoying superb views over the west of Sicily along the way. On their final day they will return to Etna's southern slopes, heading east along a route known as 'the Donkey's Back' with its spectacular views across the Valle de Bove, an open canyon measuring 7km x 6km with walls that tower as high as 1,000m.

Previously, Jo has trekked for SENSE in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, Peruvian Andes where the temperature reached as low as -8oC and Bavaria. This trek will once again be a huge test of stamina and Jo will be keeping up her regular visits to the gym to maintain her fitness. "We admire Jo's determination to conquer Mount Etna and are fully committed to helping her raise money for such a good cause," says partner Ross Cocker.

To help Jo meet her fundraising commitments, Clement Keys is hosting a golf day at Aston Wood Golf Club in Sutton Coldfield on Wednesday, July 11. Anyone interested in making a donation can do so by sending a cheque made payable to SENSE to Jo at Clement Keys. All donations will be acknowledged and the proceeds will go directly to SENSE to help improve the lives of deaf blind children and adults.