A DAVENHAM student is about to embark on a memorable adventure to South Africa.

Helen Moriarty, 18, has just finished her A-levels and will be spending a whole year as an assistant at a Johannesburg school.

Helen will be jetting off to the Phuthing Boarding School, on a scheme set up by Project Trust, a charity which organises jobs for gap year students.

Helen has raised £3,250 for the trip from putting in the hours at the Tesco supermarket and from various fund-raising events, the latest being a charity evening at the 913 Restaurant, Davenham.

The evening involved a raffle for various prizes supplied by local businesses and allowed Helen to meet Winnington Park RUFCs new South African signings, Harvey Biljon and Ali Mhlanga.

Helen, a former Sir John Deanes and Leftwich High School pupil, has already had to endure a rigourous selection and training process in Coll Island, Scotland.

She said: It was really remote and we had to dig buggy beds, go on mad walks and write essays.

My biggest challenge will be living on £40 per month, but the other problem is the discipline of the kids because they use corporal punishment over there.

But I dont see any real problems, Im just really looking forward to it, itll be a great experience.

She will set off on August 23 and will be away from her family until August 17 next year. Helen would like to thank all her sponsors and people who donated prizes for the charity evening as well as 913 manager Neil Robinson, who held the event.