A BIKER mum could become one of the first females as part of a female group to reach Mount Everest’s base camp on a motorbike.

Paula Hockey had a motorbike when she was 17 but after having children it was deemed “irresponsible”.

When she hit 40 Paula, from Colchester, decided to gear up once more and bought herself a Honda bike which she has fondly named Ruby.

Now 56, the mum-of-two has set herself the challenge of a lifetime.

She will be joining a group of women riding to one of Mount Everest’s base camps. If successful, they will be the first ever female group to reach the point by motorbike.

She said: “I had a small motorbike when I was 17 but didn’t really know what I was doing so sold it for £50 and a push bike.

“Family commitments meant I didn’t take up the sport until I was 40. I progressed by undertaking training with Essex Advanced Motorcycle group and started to ride abroad.

“In 2016 with my mate Al I made the 3,000 mile round trip to reach the Arctic Circle in Norway on my NC750S called Ruby.

“I am nervous and excited but this challenge is a once in a lifetime opportunity that can’t be missed.

“I had a bit of a midlife crisis and thought I would just do it.”

She will meet a group of 23 women from around the world, who call themselves ‘Girls on Top’, in Kathmandu and they will set off to the north summit next week.

Paula said her children, Charlotte and Michael, are backing her all the way.

She said: “I think secretly they are quite chuffed their mum rides a motorbike.

“This is a ginormous challenge as 10 per cent of it is off road and because of the altitude it is deemed quite a challenge.

“Steph Jeavons is leading the group to the north base in Tibet. She is the first woman to circumnavigate the globe and ride a motorbike on all seven continents.”

They will be travelling around 17,000ft and covering a distance of 2,340km.

The ladies will be riding Royal Enfield Himalayans which are designed for off road biking.

Paula said: “Preparation for this challenge has meant fitness training as we will be riding at altitude.

“Ten per cent of the trip is on unmade roads so training with Al in Yorkshire and a meet up with some of the English contingent for a day on the Royal Enfield Himilayans which will be provided for the trip has been invaluable.

“I have had a bit of practice on the bikes and have had some off road training.

“I’m feeling excitedly nervous. I can’t believe it as I’ve never travelled that far, not even on holiday.

“I’m very emotional about it.”

She and a friend are raising money along the way for the New Futures Nepal project which supports The Hope Centre.

The centre supports children in Kathmandu and the team has been invited to visit the centre on September 14.

Search for Paula’s Base Camp Ride on Justgiving.