Members of Medway Youth Trust are appealing for businesses to boost their fundraising mission to send vulnerable young members to Colombia.

The 13-strong group of young adults and teenagers are set to travel to the South American country to work for three weeks on a coffee farm, dairy and in a school.

They hope to make the trip in October and need to raise more than £20,000.

The group have been busy fundraising themselves, taking part in the KM Dragon Boat Race earlier this year and baking and selling cakes to boost their fundraising efforts.

However, they are now appealing for help from the Medway community especially business people who may be able to help sponsor their trip.

The New Horizons initiative has also been helped by a grant from Colyer Fergusson Charitable Trust.

The young people involved in the trip come from vulnerable backgrounds.

Jody Sharp, from the Medway Youth Trust, said: “New Horizons will give these young people the chance to participate in cultural exchange and gain a new international perspective which will build their confidence, enable them to develop critical life skills and empower them to make a positive difference to their life and the lives of others.

“New Horizons participants are young people from Medway who may face a range of barriers and may otherwise not have had such an opportunity.

“They are proving with their participation, that any vulnerability large or small isn’t an obstacle to achieving great things.”

“The team need to raise a total of £22,400 to fund their project and have been working hard to secure business sponsorship and run fundraising events to help reach their target.”

Businesses in Medway can make a £250 donation which will get their logo on the t-shirts the group wear in Colombia and the youngsters will be blogging, tweeting, facebooking and doing regular website updates on their trip.

For the same amount you can get your company logo or on a giant A-board which the group will take with them and photograph when they are on their visit.

If you can help. see www.themytrust.org, call Sheila Heffernan on 07769 255123 or 01634 334343 or email Sheila.heffernan@themytrust.org