A TEENAGER from Finchampstead will be walking nearly 22 miles to raise money for a trip to Cambodia.
Jonathan Gan, 16, who is currently studying for his GCSEs at Yateley School, will be taking part in a four-week volunteer programme in the southeast Asian country next August to work on development projects.
But to fund the trip, Jonathan is having to undertake a series of fundraising challenges, including a 21.5-mile walk from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle on October 14, which he has personally organised.
Jonathan told The Wokingham Paper: “I’ve never been to Cambodia and have never done a trip like this before, but the volunteer programme, Camps International, came to give a talk at school and I thought it sounded really interesting.
“The trip will involve a lot of different elements, from wildlife preservation and infrastructure building, to backpacking and gaining my PADI diving certificate.
“It is very exciting, but we need to raise £4,000 in order to take part, so I am doing as much fundraising as I can.”
The teenager has so far raised around £700 through sales at his school and various local fairs, and will be holding a collection at a ukulele gig at the Rose and Crown, in Sandhurst, on October 28.
Jonathan said: “The walk will be our biggest fundraiser, I have planned it all myself and a group of us will be taking part. We will leave the Victoria Memorial at 9am and arrive at Windsor Castle between 4pm and 5pm.
“We will all be wearing onesies to make it a bit more fun and will be collecting money along the way.
“More than 40% of the money we raise for our trip will go directly to the communities in Cambodia, 40% will cover the cost of the trip, and the rest will cover our insurance and supervision.
“I am really looking forward to this trip of a lifetime because I have never done anything like this, so it will be a unique experience and I really want to make a difference in the world.”
To sponsor Jonathan, visit https://www.gofundme.com/my-trip-to-help-cambodia.
