Fifty times, 50 days, in anticipation for her big 5-0. Yes, Tauranga woman Ann Wicken from R.I.S.E Food and Fitness will summit the equivalent of Mount Everest-and-a-bit using the mountain right here in our backyard.

Ann will be taking part in the MORE FM Mount Everest Challenge – to conquer the Mount 38 times in 50 days – not only to raise money for Tauranga Women's Refuge, but to prove to herself that she can.

But Ann will be taking it one step further. She'll be ascending the Mount 50 times in 50 days, in celebration of her 50th birthday.

'I'm in my 50th year, so that's where that came from.”

And Ann doesn't sit still for long – she's big in the multisport scene, training constantly for events throughout the country.

'The Mt Everest challenge will be the perfect training ground, it will be absolutely ideal.”

She's going to have to work for it though, because she won't be around the Mount for nearly half of the challenge.

'Of the 50 days, we're out of town for two weeks so there will be some big efforts to crank out the numbers before we go away.

'Now that I think about doing five of them [in one day], I'm going to have to put some serious amounts of time in.”

The regular 38 climbs can be completed by an individual or as a team, and must take place between this Friday, February 17 and April 7.

For more information on the challenge and to register, visit: www.morefm.co.nz/mounteverestchallenge