Great Barr teen Amy pitches tent in back garden for a month to raise trip funds

Dec 30 2009 by Kat Keogh, Birmingham Mail

TEMPERATURES may be plummeting, but nothing is going to thaw the enthusiasm of one Birmingham teen.

Sixth form student Amy Welch is embarking on a rather chilly challenge next month to help fund a trip of a lifetime.

The 16-year-old from Great Barr will be braving the elements and pitching a tent in her back garden every night during January.

Amy hopes the stunt will help her reach a £4,500 fundraising target to cover the cost of a five-week expedition to the Peruvian Amazon next year with youth development charity BSES Expeditions.

King Edward VI Handsworth School pupil Amy said her decision to sleep in her back garden for a month has raised a few eyebrows. On Friday she will swap her cosy bedroom for a two-man tent.

She is currently studying for AS Levels in biology, chemistry, geography and maths, and hopes her trip will lead her into a career in science. To make a donation email amybses@aol.com