A WOMAN who hates driving will be getting behind the wheel of several vehicles to raise money for a cancer charity.

Jean Sproston, of Dorchester Road, Weymouth, is taking the challenge in memory of a friend and colleague who died of bowel cancer last year.

Mrs Sproston, 54, is the manager of an opticians' practice in Dorchester where Claire Goldsworthy worked as a receptionist.

Mrs Sproston said: "Claire first got bowel cancer when she was pregnant with her second child.

"Then a few years after that it came back and she died last year aged just 32.

"She was always encouraging me to drive although she did not like it, so I thought a driving challenge would be a good thing to do in her memory.

"She was a really wonderful person.

"Her family was everything to her and she was always cheerful, laughing and joking."

In preparation for the driving challenge Mrs Sproston has had a few driving lessons but until those she had not driven for at least 10 years although she has her licence.

She said: "I don't know why I stopped driving. I just hated it. I rely on my husband to drive me around the place and he is very good about it."

The driving challenge is taking place at Bovington Army Camp tomorrow and Mrs Sproston and the other women taking part will have to drive all kinds of vehicles including diggers, combine harvesters, double-decker buses and fire engines.

Mrs Sproston said: "I think we have to drive whatever vehicle they have there.

"It does not sound like much of a challenge for some people but for me it will be because I just hate driving."

The event is being held to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Mrs Sproston has already raised £720 in sponsorship from family and friends but is hoping to raise some more.

As if one driving challenge was not enough Mrs Sproston has also booked herself on Dorset County Council's driving course on the A35, which she will do on Monday.