TWO sisters who have both beaten breast cancer will climb Britain’s highest mountain next month to raise funds to help other women who are still battling the illness.

Karyn Harper, from Weaverthorpe, near Malton, and Tracy Chapman, from Ulleskelf, near Tadcaster, have a cancer-causing gene that is found in only five per cent of families in the country.

Their mother, Pauline Chapman, of Tollerton, has also survived the deadly disease, and Karyn now has to wait and see if her two children have inherited the BRC2 gene that gives women an 80 per cent risk of developing breast cancer and 40 per cent chance of developing ovarian cancer.

If her five-year-old daughter, Ciara, tests positive for the gene, she will face the agonising decision over whether to have her healthy breasts and ovaries removed to avoid getting cancer.

If Karyn’s ten-year-old son, Joe, has inherited the gene, he would run the risk of passing on the gene to his own children in the future.

Karyn, 43, who works as a medical sales representative for the pharmaceutical company Pfizer Ltd, where Tracy also works, said: “That is our motivation for doing this walk. We want research into cancer to make progress as quickly as possible and that can only happen with money to fund it.”

The two sisters will be joined on their one-day hike up Ben Nevis, in Scotland, by Karyn’s husband Rob, 39, their work colleague Victoria Fearnley and her partner, Jason Woods. Together, they aim to raise £2,500 for Breast Cancer Care.

Last month, they raised £800 by holding a barbecue and raffle at Karyn and Rob’s home.

“I’d like to thank everybody who supported the event, especially the local businesses who generously donated raffle prizes,” said Karyn.

On Sunday, September 27, they will have a stall at Pickering car boot sale, with all proceeds going to their cause.

If you would like to sponsor the team, log onto their fundraising page at justgiving.com/karynandrob