Three generations of the same family will trek up a mountain in aid of charity this week.

The Childs family will raise funds for Rennie Grove Hospice Care by setting off on a journey to conquer Schmittenhoe Mountain in Salzberg on May 23.

Rennie Grove cared for their wife, mother and grandmother Mandy Childs, who died in June last year aged 58, four years after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.

The family, made up of Mandy’s husband Tony, the couple’s three sons, James, David and Stephen along with their partners and Mandy’s four grandchildren, Olivia, eight months, Max, seven, Nieve, four and Monty, four, have called themselves Team Smileage because Mandy always had a smile on her face.

The adults of the group, with baby Olivia being carried, will set off on the gruelling 17.5km hike on May 23 and hope to plant a tribute flag at the summit – 2000m above sea level.

The older children will complete a 3.5km route instead.

The team hope to raise £2,000 for Rennie Grove and the MND Association.

Tony Childs, Mandy’s husband, who lives in Great Missenden, said: “Mandy fought MND with courage and dignity for four years before passing away. She never gave up and always smiled, even through the worst symptoms.

“Even with Mandy’s strength and the support of our whole family, we would have been lost without Rennie Grove Hospice Care and the MND Association.

“These two fabulous charities enabled Mandy to stay at home, where she wanted to be, throughout her illness, ensuring she received the best care and had the highest quality of life possible.”

To sponsor Team Smileage, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SomeoneSpecial/MandyChilds.