A GROUP of adventure seekers are preparing themselves for a trip of a lifetime after raising nearly £25,000 for the journey.

The ten strong team of two teachers and eight pupils, all from St Wilfrids High School in Blackburn, are to take on the 22 day trip to Peru in June.

They have all raised £2,500 each with the eight pupils being some of the youngest people ever to make the trip.

Miss Julie Marshall a teacher at the school is leading the visit on June 10. She said: "The pupils are all really looking forward to the trip as they have all worked really hard to raise the money.

"They have carried out various tasks beyond their call of duty so that they could raise around £2,500 each which is a staggering amount.

"We have had donations from local businesses, and the pupils have carried out fund raising activities such as car washes and other sponsored events."

The teachers and pupils will take part in a 20 mile trek to Machu Picchu and will visit Lapaz and carry out a community project in Isla Del Sol.

The trip has been organised by Berkshire-based firm Wilderness Expertise, which sets up community project trips around the world.

Richard Ellis, 17, of Lindsay Park, Worsthorne, is part of the team undertaking the trip. He said: "I am really looking forward to going out there and getting hands on with the tasks that will be set for us. The fact that we are some of the youngest people to be going out to Peru doesn't bother me, in fact it makes me feel quite proud that I will be able to do something to help others.

"We are going to Isla Del Sol to help with a community project which hasn't been set yet but last year they helped re-build a school so it could be something along those lines.

"I have spent a lot of time raising money so that I can go on this trip so I hope that it will work out well and benefit lots of other people as well as myself.

"I have been told some of the food out there is a bit dodgy so I will be eating rice dishes for the duration of the trip and keeping away from the meat."