Scott's aiming for the top to trek through Himalayas

Sixteen-year-old Scott Waterfield, a Bearsden Academy pupil, has raised £1,200 so far towards the £4,000 total amount he will need for the World Challenge programme trip next June, (this includes the cost of the injections).

As well as trekking through the Himalayas for one week, Scott will also spend one week helping to build extra facilities in a school in Rajasthan, such as toilets or dorms, and painting the building if required.

During the 28 days in India he will also get the chance to interact with the children at the local school and visit tourist attractions such as an elephant sanctuary, where he will get the opportunity to help care for the animals.

Scott raised over £600 by holding a ladies-only film night at Mugdock Country Park recently.

The event was a sell-out success, with raffle prizes generously donated by local businesses and individuals including White Fig Beauty, Eden Mill, Mugstock Festival, Brasserie 19, Grosvenor Cinema, Dining In with Mother India, Bar Florence and Rose & Thyme.

Scott even volunteered himself as the “mystery star prize”, for odd jobs including gardening work, dog walking and cleaning cars for one lucky lady.

Scott said: “I’d like to thank everyone for their support so far which has helped me get closer to raising enough money to be able to go on this once in a lifetime trip.

“I’m very excited about being able to do something to help people who really don’t have a lot themselves.

“I’m also looking forward to experiencing Indian culture and meeting new people.

“I think this expedition will have a big impact on me and could end up influencing my life decisions in the future.

“I’ve never been anywhere in Asia before so I think it will be very interesting.”

Scott has been working hard to improve his fitness level as he will need to pass fitness tests before he is allowed to trek in the Himalayas because it will be physically challenging.

The World Challenge is a leading provider of life-changing school expeditions.

It provides children with an opportunity for learning and personal development outside the classroom through projects as diverse as maintenance and repair through to painting murals and building play areas within schools to make formal education more achievable and desirable in poorer rural communities.

If you would like to help pay for Scott’s trip, which must be completely self-funded, you can contact Scott by emailing him on [email protected]