A determined mum and daughter are set to hit the heights in memory of a Forest Town firefighter who was killed in a crash on the M1 two years ago.

Toni Hall, (50), and her daughter, Mady, (20), aim to scale Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania — the world’s tallest freestanding mountain — next year to raise awareness of the dangers of being distracted by using mobile phones while driving.

In 2015 Toni’s partner, Darren Bryan (known as Rube), was killed when a lorry driver who a court was told had been using his mobile phone while driving crashed into the Forest Town man’s van.

“Climbing Kilimanjaro was never on my goal list — I had seen other people do it but it never appealed to me,” said Toni.

“After Darren (a firefighter in Mansfield and Retford) was killed, however, all of our goals and dreams were gone. All I could see was an empty white space stretching out in front of me.

“I needed something to aim for, something that had not been on our extensive list of goals and adventures, but something that would challenge me and create a new perspective.”

Now Toni, who is a Forever Living business owner, will tackle the 4,900-metre climb in February to raise money for The Fire Fighters Charity and for Brake, a charity that supports families of road collision victims.

“We want to raise money for those who have supported us and Darren’s family over the last two years,” she said.

“Brake has wonderful people who have experienced loss through road deaths but who continue to have the strength to support others in their loss.”

Since the fatal crash in 2015, Toni has worked with the Prevention Team at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue to highlight the dangers of motorists using mobile phones while driving, giving talks and presentations to the community.

Mady said: “After losing my mum’s partner, we were overwhelmed with the support of all those at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue.

“We know Rube (Darren) had gone above and beyond to fundraise for The Fire Fighters Charity, so it felt right to give back to the community that he was such an immense part of, and to a charity that he most definitely cared for.

“We also want to thank those who have continued to welcome us in as their own after his death and to help us promote the dangers of using mobile phones while driving — and the impact this has on lives like our own.”

To prepare for their challenge in Africa, Toni and Mady, who works for Bristol Street Motors in Derby, will climb Ben Nevis in Scotland and tackle the Sandstone Trail in Cheshire.

Anyone who wants to support the climbers should go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Mady-and-Toni and www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Toni-and-Mady