Pupils at a Bingley school are in a race against time to raise thousands of pounds so they can go on an adventure of a lifetime in Malawi.

Sixteen youngsters from Beckfoot Grammar School, aged between 14 and 17, need £2,500 each before they can join the trip set up by the London-based World Challenge Expedition which organises expeditions to developing countries.

An initial 25 hopefuls have been whittled down to 16 who have paid a deposit and organised a committee to raise the cash and discuss the details of their month-long expedition in the summer of 2001.

Teacher Julie Carroll said they had been inspired by the return to the school of ex-pupil Joel Manning before he went to Belize for three months with Operation Raleigh.

She said: "Some of the kids were interested in that sort of thing and it just grew from there. They had a choice of countries - Brazil, South Africa and Tibet.

"They wanted to help clean up the base camp at Everest but it was really expensive and it would have taken a long time to get a visa.

"They meet every week to discuss progress and have formed a committee with a chairman, treasurer and secretary.

"They're very keen and have taken on part-time jobs, washed staff cars, bag-packed at Asda and baked cakes to raise the funds. It's all in their own time so their school work doesn't suffer."

She added: "One of the things they are hoping to do is to raise awareness of HIV while they are there. They have been researching charities established over there who they can link in with.

"They want to work alongside a charity so it won't fizzle out when they go. It's something they cover at school, and it just seemed like a really good idea."

One of the pupils hoping to go is Alex Lai, 15, of Moorhead Crescent, Shipley, who raised £116.50 from a sponsored swim of two miles in two hours. He said: "Once we get to Malawi, where we will be living self-sufficiently for a month, we plan to trek across some of the country.

"The other part of our time will be used to help a local community either by helping to build a school or by teaching the local children English."

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