An urgent call for help has this week been issued by the Okehampton and District Duke of Edinburgh Award Committee. Last minute disaster has struck plans for the Gold Award expedition and residential project to South Africa, due to take place in August. Unless the committee can raise £12,000 in under ten days, the whole trip could be cancelled. Award Leader, Chris Bourne, said: 'All our plans and fund raising were going great until we were told that International Airline Nationwide, who we booked our flights with, had gone bust. 'We were all devastated with the news and as the enormity of the situation grew we realised that we could lose the whole venture if we didn't act quickly. 'Now not only was getting to South Africa a dilemma but the connecting flights, the expedition, the residential project, all of our transport and our accommodation and even the coach journey from and back to Exeter, were all in jeopardy of being lost as all are booked and paid for ahead of our planned departure on August 4. 'We stand to lose it all. All the hard work over the last 12 months could so easily come to nothing and it would leave nine gold participants bitterly disappointed. 'Please help us to secure the replacement flights as we have managed to find some for the same dates and times and so have put a deposit on them with Virgin Atlantic. 'The problem is that we now need £12,000 to pay for them and to hone our attention even more we desperately need the money in the next 10 days, when the balance becomes due for payment. Please help us. 'We hope to get something of our initial booked flight costs back in due course, but by the time that arrives it will most certainly be too late.' Anyone who feels they can help in anyway should all Chris on either 01837 53797 or 07974 412326.