AN Abergavenny midwife turned firefighter for a day in her quest to complete a list of 40 things to do before her 40th birthday.

Emma Mills, 39, has just months to complete challenges such as climbing Snowdon and completing the Great North Run before October 31 for charity.

So far Mrs Mills, of Upper Llanover, has abseiled off Newport’s Transporter Bridge, written an article for a midwifery magazine and delivered a lamb.

The latest challenge saw her and best friend Tasha Price, 39, who is also taking part, don fireproof kit to be put through their paces by instructor John Gamblin at the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service Training Centre, Cardiff Gate.

“We climbed a tower, learnt how to use breathing equipment in a simulated fire and got to ride in a fire engine at the centre which trains crew from across the UK,” said Mrs Mills.

“I can’t thank the team enough for making a life-long ambition become a reality,”

she said.

The Nevill Hall Hospital-based midwife, has raised more than £500 for the Southern Ethiopia Gwent Health Link, which provides health centres with medical equipment and trains, as well as ambulances and driver training.

For more details, visit justgiving.com/emmamillsethiopialink