by Graham Tutthill

gtutthill@thekmgroup.co.uk

After months of preparation, three teenagers are spending today climbing up and down Dover’s Grand Shaft 70 times.

Twins Kelly and Tess Gartshore and their friend Sam West, who are all 16, are raising money for the Western Heights Preservation Society.

The shaft, which connects Snargate Street with the Western Heights, is made up of a 125-foot triple staircase – each one containing about 200 steps.

Kelly and Tess are pupils at Dover Christ Church Academy and Sam attends Welbeck Army Sixth Form College.

The society is raising money to add to a £2,000 community grant towards restoring an old cookhouse so that it can be used as a weatherproof workshop and rest area for volunteers.

The girls start their climb at 9am on Easter Saturday with the Mayor, Cllr Ronnie Philpott, on hand to see the girls off and wish them luck.

The girls are expected to take at least six hours to complete it and if they are successful, they will have climbed the equivalent of Mount Everest.

To sponsor the girls visit www.justgiving.com/whps

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