FRIENDS of Megan Roberts' family will take part in a walking challenge this week to raise money in her memory.

Megan was 20 when she disappeared on a night out in York in January. Her body was found in the River Ouse several weeks later, and her mother Jackie has since become involved in campaigning for better river safety in the city.

Jackie, who lives in Wetherby, is supporting York Rescue Boat - a charity founded by Dave Benson to patrol the Ouse on busy nights - and her friend Jayne Wragg will walk the Yorkshire Three Peaks tomorrow (WEDS), to raise money for the charity.

Jackie said: "It's a positive thing for me that this is happening because it's in Megan's memory, and the fact my friend is raising money for the rescue boat.

"I have known Jane for about 15 years as a friend of a friend at first, and our daughters were both at school together. She wanted to do something in Megan's memory and I feel like she's inspiring other people. She's made people aware that there is this charity to support and it's inspiring other people luckily to fundraise."

Jayne will take part in the walk, which is about 25 miles and includes Penyghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, with her sister Suzanne, and aims to complete it in under 12 hours.

She said: "Jackie and I have been really good friends and what happened to Megan was absolutely heartbreaking. We saw Dave Benson on television and both said what a fantastic idea [the York Rescue Boat] was.

"I've done the three peaks before for MacMillan but this time we've called it Miles For Megan. I wanted to do something to raise some money for the York Rescue Boat and Jackie thought is was a good idea and it went from there."

Jackie said she was encouraged to hear from Julia Mulligan recently on the progress the river safety campaign is making, and will visit Westminster later this month with the Royal Lifesaving Society to discuss improvements in teaching around river safety in schools.

She said: "It's good to know something's happening.

"We're all kind of waiting to see what the ROSPA results are and I think it will be interesting to see what they come up with. If everyone has the same ideas then that will help something to happen going forward. I'm glad we're seeing something happen."

To donate to Jayne and Suzanne's challenge, go to givey.com/janieragg