THE heartbreaking images of wildlife injured and killed in Australia’s wildfires has prompted a Clydebank woman to do her bit to help.

Marryann Barrowman aims to cycle and run a total of 16,925 kilometres – the distance from her hometown to Sydney, Australia.

The 39-year-old has set herself the challenge in order to raise money for WIRES, which is helping injured animals including koala bears, kangaroos and wallabies.

A video that has been shared millions of times online inspired Maryann to chip in and support the charity caring for the animals.

The clip showed a woman taking her top off to pull a koala bear from a tree.

The animal was badly burned after it had caught in the bushfire, and passed away days later.

Maryann told the Post: “It was heart-breaking to see that, and obviously he didn’t make it, despite her efforts.

“But when I heard the figure of a billion animals will have died by the end of the Australian summer that really upset me and I thought I could do something to help raise some money.

“Seeing the photos of animals trying to escape is really sad.”

Maryann will cycle or run 47.1 kilometres a day before her work for the rest of the year in order to make up the total number.

Read more: Pest control teams tackle schools plagued by rats, mice and wasps

A JustGiving page has been set up in order for people to donate and has raised more than £200 so far.

The fundraising total will be updated every Sunday night with Maryann’s progress.

Maryann wrote: “I’m devastated, as a lot of people are around the world, to see the damage that the wildfires in Australia have caused and will continue to cause over the next few months during the Australian summer.

“I wanted to help in any way I could, so I’ve decided to do a cycling and running challenge to help raise money for the Australian wildlife that has been badly affected by the fires.

“Any donation would be greatly received and will go a long way to help WIRES continue to do the hard work of rescuing the sick and injured wildlife of Australia.”

The charity has set up an emergency fund.

In December, volunteers attended more than 3,300 rescues. Around five million hectares of land has been destroyed in the wildfires and many are still burning.

On Friday, hundreds of people from Extinction Rebellion UK protested outside the Australian Embassy on the Strand in London against the Australian government’s failure to respond to the bushfires and the climate and ecological emergency.