A group of schoolchildren are undertaking a series of fundraising activities so they can go on an expedition of a lifetime.

The nine Sittingbourne Community College youngsters need to raise about £1,400 each to fund their World Challenge trip to Croatia and Montenegro.

So far they have held a successful quiz night which netted more than £400 and during the Easter holiday they will spend three days packing bags for customers at Morrisons and Asda in return for donations.

The two-week programme, which takes place in August, aims to develop leadership, teamwork and decision-making skills while engaging with another culture in a remote environment to help change the way pupils aged between 14 and 18 think about the world and their place in it.

Their journey will start with a 150-mile trek over rugged terrain before they embark on a series of activities by either working in the local community or undertaking conservation projects.

Organiser Darren Collins said: “A driving force behind all we do is encouraging our students to think and act for themselves.

“Every time we undertake a new venture I can see how quickly individuals take on responsibility and gain independence by meeting the demands placed on them.”

In preparation, they attend the school gym every Tuesday where they use weights, treadmills, rowing machines and static bikes to get their fitness levels up.

Year 10 pupil Jed Pearson said: “We’ve been working hard to build up the stamina and strength we know we’ll need to tackle some pretty hard stretches on our mountain trek.

“It’s been fun trying to beat our personal bests on the exercises we do and we take on each other as well.”

As the countdown continues, new sponsors are also needed to help reach their target figure.

Shannon Bye, who is in Year 11, said: “We’ve pushed our fundraising in school to the limit. Now we want the town to support us too if it can.”