April Goodwin, 17, has to raise £4,660 by August to fund her gap year with Scottish charity Project Trust that sends around two hundred 17-19-year-olds to 25 developing countries on a variety of different projects annually.

To raise the money, April has recently started her first sponsored event, which involves swimming, cycling and running the equivalent distance of north-east to south-west Cambodia, a total of 730km, which works out at about 6.1km per day for 119 days.

She is also holding a 'Coffee and Cakes for Cambodia' event at the Scout Hut in Aboyne on Saturday (February 6) from 10am to 12noon.
April, who is in her final year at Aboyne Academy, says she can't wait to start her voluntary work.

"For a while now I have wanted to go overseas and help in a developing country," she said. "I really feel like I can do some good and have a lot to give.

"I found Project Trust last summer whilst trawling the internet for the 'right' gap year project. I wanted to do something that is really worthwhile where I can make a difference - however small in the huge scale of things. Project Trust ticked all the boxes and more.

"Before Project Trust I'm ashamed to say I had no idea where Cambodia was, and had definitely never considered spending a year of my life there. But the more I research the more I find it to be a fascinating and beautiful country."

April's work will involve working with children that are HIV-positive or have Aids at an orphanage an hour's drive west of Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital.

April said: "The work sounds extremely exciting, emotionally challenging and very rewarding. I know it is going to be tough but that is all part of the adventure!

"But it is not just a case of sitting back and waiting for August to come around as I have £4,660 to raise! It seems a huge figure at the moment but hopefully with support it should be manageable. The challenge of swimming, cycling and running the distance of Cambodia is going to be a real test but I have a strong determination to reach my target."

Follow April's fundraising progress at www.justgiving.com/April-Cambodia