THE CEO of a huge cancer charity and long-time Stow-on-the-Wold resident has embarked on a 10-day trip to the Great Wall of China in a bid to raise more awareness of bowel cancer.

Deborah Alsina is CEO of Bowel Cancer UK and endures a five hour commute every day, four days a week to get to her London office. Her passion for the Cotswolds means she cannot bear to leave her hometown of Stow.

On Thursday she embarked on a 10 day trip to the Great Wall of China, where she will walk just less than 100 kilometres of one of the world's ancient wonders, staying with local families and experiencing true Chinese culture along the way.

"I still feel kind of underprepared," admitted Deborah before her trip. "There are going to be lots of steep steps and hills. As a seasoned commuter trekking is not something I'm used to.

"I'm hoping that my sheer determination will get me through it."

Deborah is hoping to raise as much awareness and money for Bowel Cancer UK as possible through her trip. She has been CEO of the charity for five and a half years and first got involved after her father died of the disease within six months of being diagnosed.

"People do not realise that it's the second biggest cancer killer in the UK. There are 16,000 bowel cancer deaths a year and 41,500 diagnosed every year," added the 45-year-old. "The disease is very treatable when diagnosed early but the reality is that many people are diagnosed too late."

Deborah's challenge is part of the Time for Guts campaign, which aims to save lives and improve the treatment and care of people with advanced disease.

She has already raised £5,000 for the charity and hopes to raise a further £2,500. She returns to her husband and three children in Stow next weekend.

Visit justgiving.com/deborahalsina1 to donate.