A group are taking on the Welsh Three Peaks challenge to fundraise for a mental health charity, after the loss of their friend Naomi Scarano.

Naomi took her own life in September 2019, after years of tackling mental health issues.

An amazing friend, sister, daughter and auntie, Naomi (or Nom to her friends) had a great sense of humour, an honest approach to life and a uniquely kind and caring nature.

Hollie Bottrill, Nicola Harrison (née Dobson), Claire James (née Neudegg), Laura Hargroves (née Wedlake) Chloe Payne (née Baxendale), Faye Coe (née Zaslona), Abigail Smith, Naomi's sister, and Katie Bullon (née Andrews) all grew up in Cowbridge, attending school together.

The friends decided to complete the challenge of summiting Snowdon, Cader Idris and Pen Y Fan in 24 hours and raise £3,000 for the Scar Cover Up Freedom Fund (SCUFF).

"It's something we decided to do as a group of friends because we didn't want Naomi to be forgotten about," said Katie.

"She struggled for a long time with her mental health, ever since we were young in school.

"It's a shame it came to that in the end, but this walk is something to have that time to grieve together.

"We all live all over the country now, three of us in Cowbridge and others in London, Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham.

"We said we need to do something to spend the time to remember her.

"I see this as something we do every year or every other year in memory of Nom, and maybe building a long-relationship with SCUFF and be ambassadors for the charity on her behalf," she said.

SCUFF is a small non-for-profit that aims to support those struggling with self-harm, those caring for people who are self-harming and survivors of self-harm.

It currently funds tattoos to cover up self-harm scars, offers training to those caring for people who self-harm and can signpost and support those currently self-harming.

"It's something Nom would really have approved of," said Katie.

"She really struggled with it and as a result was always trying to cover up her scars with bracelets or long tops.

"The times when she was good, and didn't want to self-harm, the scars were a constant reminder that she had been in that bad place.

"If Nom had had access to funding for these tattoos, it would have closed off the past. It's symbolic, and would mean she didn't have to look at them all day.

"Also, the questions – as her nieces and nephews got older, they would ask what was on her arms.

"It just would have avoided difficult questions for her, and the tattoos can be really relevant to each person," she said.

The friends are all training for the walk scheduled in June, negociating lockdown restrictions as they do so.

"Highlighting the message of keeping people close and being kind to one another is really important to us, with the restrictions at the moment, and economic situation being so stressful," said Katie.

You can find out more via the Instagram page @NomsChallenge and the fundraising page.