A performance artist originally from Steeton plans to scale one of the world’s most iconic mountains to improve children’s education in Africa.

Aine Curran, 21, will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, in aid of the charity Giving Africa which is dedicated to developing education by building schools in Africa.

The former pupil of Holy Family Catholic School in Keighley is now a professional dancer, singer and performance art teacher.

Aine said: “I plan to climb Kilimanjaro with a group of dancers from all over the country. We will spend three days in Nairobi doing community work and dance workshops with the children and orphans there. Then we will spend the rest of our time climbing the mountain.

“We’re raising £50,000 so Giving Africa can build a school in Burkina Faso. It’s quite an overwhelming amount, especially for dancers who are constantly struggling to make a living.

“Our project is called ‘Leap to the Peak’. We’re also going to raise awareness for a charity called Movement for Hope. This uses multimedia arts to raise awareness of neurological conditions which affect many people.”

Aine, who is from Summerhill Drive in Steeton and now lives in London, said next June’s trip was being organised by a company called Awareness Through Dance. She said: “I always knew I wanted to go into dance as a career. When I was 15 I applied to go to dance school and got accepted into the Hammond School, in Chester.

“After graduating I went on tour with a musical show around Germany, where I also worked as a teacher.

“I then came back to the UK to continue my dance career, which has now led me to this project. I think it’s an amazing opportunity, but we need all the support we can get from everyone.”

Aine said her own personal fundraising target was £3,000, and added that she had so far collected about £300.

People can find out more via Aine’s website at ainecurran.co.uk or support her fundraising drive online at justgiving.com/aine-curran.