Hello my name is Deborah Perry (left in the picture, as a cavegirl, random...I know!) and I am 18 years old, finishing school in about 2 weeks. I have booked myself a place on a Raleigh International Expedition to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and need your help in  reaching my target of  £2995, any help you can give is greatly appreciated.

To help raise money i am contemplating cutting my long hair about 15inches of it may be coming off but need some ideas on how much it is worth. . . .?

The work of Raleigh International on its expeditions is truly lifesaving in some of the worlds poorest and under-developed countries. Nicaragua for example is the second poorest country in the western hemisphere and deperately in need of basic infrastructure and although it is not certain what I will be doing, I will definitely be making a difference, if I'm building schools or medical centres or digging trenches and laying piping from a water source to a village, I will be helping to make someone's life so much better. i.e. providing a clean and efficient water supply will save the serveral kilometre treck each day that is essential for the remote villagers to survive. This would make up the community phase.

Another phase of the expedition will be an environmental project, either revisiting past Raleigh project sites or starting new ones. In this phase I could be doing anything from creating paths through the jungle, to building ranger stations, to knocking down illegally built american housing on the protected areas of the pacific coast to encourage the turtles to return to the beaches to lay their eggs as they have not been seen for many years now. 

Finally I will have the chance to take part in the 19 day treck "the coast to coast". ( As the name suggests we will be walking from the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica to the Pacific). This treck will be along the border of  Nicaragua and Costa Rica along a volcanic belt, which will be truly fascinating for me as I am a keen geologist.

I believe that this trip will be a life changing experience for me and definitely will be an unforgettable adventure. But it is not only for my own benefit, I will also be helping to teach the villagers of Costa Rica  and Nicaragua, both children and adults.

Thank you for your time.       

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Raleigh International will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.