A SPORTY Bratton Clovelly youngster is closer to her target of raising enough money to fund her gap year in Nepal after successfully completing the exacting Wadebridge triathlon.
Jenny Rice, 18, a former Okehampton College student, finished a superb third in the event and raised around £1,000 towards a six-month volunteer placement working with disadvantaged people in Nepal.
On a rainy Sunday in Wadebridge earlier this month, the 115-strong field swum, then cycled into a punishing headwind before running the final five miles to the finish.
Jenny finished third out of the 40 or so women taking part, in an excellent time of 1 hour and 37 minutes, three minutes behind the overall winner.
Jenny said: ?My time was even better than I would have hoped and I had aimed to raise £500 in sponsorship for the race, so to raise double that is really great.?
Jenny has been selected to go to Nepal next January for six months where she will live with a host family and look after children in an orphanage.
The placement has been made possible through the voluntary organisation ICYE (Inter-Cultural Youth Exchange), which promotes youth development through international exchange trips.
Jenny still needs to raise another £1,000 to pay for flights, insurance and living costs in Nepal.
A proportion of this amount will also enable a young volunteer from Nepal to travel to the UK and work with a social charity supporting homeless or disabled people.
After Jenny returns from her gap year placement she will take up her place on a degree course at a Welsh university, studying science in health, exercise and sport.
Jenny thanked everyone who had generously sponsored her and said she was still collecting donations to enable her to take up the gap year opportunity.
If you can help please contact Jenny Rice on 01837 871216 or [email protected]">[email protected]