Leisure centre gives girls a leg-up to the roof of the world
Friday, 21st May 2010.
Haverhill Leisure Centre is supporting five students from Samuel Ward Arts and Technology College who are training for a four-and-a-half-week educational expedition to India in July.
The centre has devised a training programme and given the girls free use of its gym to help them prepare for the trip which includes a two-week trek across the Himalayas.
Jade Huggins, 16, from Stradishall; Rhian Fawcett, 16, from Clare; Laura Johnson, 16, from Wickhambrook; Ailsa Patullo, 15, from Hundon; and Hannah Conroy, 16, from Haverhill will fly to India on July 14, for an experience of a lifetime.
Accompanied by their German teacher and fellow students Lauren Garner, 16, from Haverhill and Abbie Hyett, 15, from Poslingford, they will spend the first two weeks taking part in project work at a school in Rajasthan before heading for the Himalayas.
The girls are now building up their fitness levels in preparation for the trip by walking with their rucksacks and using the gym at Haverhill Leisure Centre.
Rhian said: “We are really grateful to Haverhill Leisure Centre for letting us use their gym for free. Obviously there are no mountains in Haverhill so by using the machines in the gym, which simulate the steep climbs we will need to be able to do, it will help us prepare for the trek.”
The girls, who are also revising for their GCSEs, have each had to raise £3,000 to go on the trip plus money for equipment and important vaccinations.
They have raised the money through organising a fashion show, cake sales, a curry lunch and car wash for teachers, sponsored run and walk, bag-packing in local shops in return for donations, and through their part-time jobs.
They have also passed up Christmas and birthday presents, and trips to the shops to raise money for equipment.
Laura said: “We have all worked really hard to raise the money for the trip and we haven’t been on a shopping trip for 18 months which, for 16-year-olds girls, is quite something. Having to raise this amount of money and seeing how much equipment costs, has really made us think about managing money.”
Jade said: “I am really looking forward to the trip to help one of the poorer communities in the world. I think we will come back changed and hopefully not taking life so much for granted anymore.”
Dominic Greenwood, general manager of Haverhill Leisure Centre, said: “I really admire these girls. They have decided to take part in what will be a very exciting but difficult trip, raised all the money themselves and are training hard to get into shape for the trek, all this while still revising for their exams and holding down part-time jobs.
“We were thrilled to be able to support them in this way and I am sure they will benefit from using the latest equipment we have here which simulates the inclines they will actually face on their trek.”
The centre has devised a training programme and given the girls free use of its gym to help them prepare for the trip which includes a two-week trek across the Himalayas.
Jade Huggins, 16, from Stradishall; Rhian Fawcett, 16, from Clare; Laura Johnson, 16, from Wickhambrook; Ailsa Patullo, 15, from Hundon; and Hannah Conroy, 16, from Haverhill will fly to India on July 14, for an experience of a lifetime.
Accompanied by their German teacher and fellow students Lauren Garner, 16, from Haverhill and Abbie Hyett, 15, from Poslingford, they will spend the first two weeks taking part in project work at a school in Rajasthan before heading for the Himalayas.
The girls are now building up their fitness levels in preparation for the trip by walking with their rucksacks and using the gym at Haverhill Leisure Centre.
Rhian said: “We are really grateful to Haverhill Leisure Centre for letting us use their gym for free. Obviously there are no mountains in Haverhill so by using the machines in the gym, which simulate the steep climbs we will need to be able to do, it will help us prepare for the trek.”
The girls, who are also revising for their GCSEs, have each had to raise £3,000 to go on the trip plus money for equipment and important vaccinations.
They have raised the money through organising a fashion show, cake sales, a curry lunch and car wash for teachers, sponsored run and walk, bag-packing in local shops in return for donations, and through their part-time jobs.
They have also passed up Christmas and birthday presents, and trips to the shops to raise money for equipment.
Laura said: “We have all worked really hard to raise the money for the trip and we haven’t been on a shopping trip for 18 months which, for 16-year-olds girls, is quite something. Having to raise this amount of money and seeing how much equipment costs, has really made us think about managing money.”
Jade said: “I am really looking forward to the trip to help one of the poorer communities in the world. I think we will come back changed and hopefully not taking life so much for granted anymore.”
Dominic Greenwood, general manager of Haverhill Leisure Centre, said: “I really admire these girls. They have decided to take part in what will be a very exciting but difficult trip, raised all the money themselves and are training hard to get into shape for the trek, all this while still revising for their exams and holding down part-time jobs.
“We were thrilled to be able to support them in this way and I am sure they will benefit from using the latest equipment we have here which simulates the inclines they will actually face on their trek.”
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