FOR Julie Ward, it was a journey of love and determination. The Gwent mother of three trekked 7,000 feet up an Andean mountain to release a balloon in memory of her 21-month-old daughter, Annie, a victim of cot death.

Mrs Ward, of Victoria Road, Bulwark, near Chepstow, raised more than £2,500 for cot death research on an 11-day trek in the Andes in Argentina.

The 36-year-old completed the Patagonia Challenge 2002 trek for the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths in memory of Annie, who died nine years ago in Germany.

Mrs Ward's 115-km trek also saw her climb a total of 9,050 feet in seven days. And she said the trek was an incredible experience.

She said: "It was much better than I ever anticipated. The area was so beautiful. "But Annie was on my mind all the time as she was the main reason I was there. I was very much aware that if she were alive today I wouldn't have gone on the trip, but at the same time I knew if it wasn't for her I wouldn't be on the trip of my life."

Mrs Ward released a yellow balloon with a message to her daughter at the top of the 7,000-foot Challhuaco mountain.

She said: "Unfortunately the balloon didn't go far before it burst because of the altitude. But I knew that she had got my message."

Husband Neil looked after the couple's three sons, Charlie, 12, Billy, eight, and Sam, four, while she took part in the challenge.

She said: "There were times when I asked myself what I was doing. especially when the going was tough. A number of times I broke down, saying I couldn't go on. But the group of friends I had around me persuaded me to. I'm glad I did now, as it was the experience of my life."

Mrs Ward is still collecting donations for the FSID and can be contacted on 01291 622864.