A STOKESLEY couple will swap their desk jobs for wet suits and snorkels when they head to a tropical Fijian island to work for a coral reef conservation charity.

Jayne and Andy Cowell met at university and throughout their studies they dreamed of adventurous voluntary work overseas once they had completed their degrees.

But after graduation both developed enjoyable careers and, with mortgage responsibilities and other commitments, they began to think their hopes of doing voluntary work overseas would never become reality.

Last year, Mrs Cowell completed a leadership course with Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust, where she is head of information management and technology.

She said: "The course made me think about what I really wanted to do in the future. I really enjoy working for the trust and have a great team of people who I don't want to leave but I realised that if I didn't try to make my dream a reality soon it would never happen"

So she approached the trust and asked for a three-month sabbatical.

Moira Britton, chief executive, said: "We didn't want to lose Jayne's skills, and we pride ourselves on being a trust that encourages all its staff to achieve a work-life balance so we happily agreed."

Spurred on by this, Mr Cowell, who is northern transport manager with Safeway, approached his employer, who also agreed to a sabbatical.

A search on the internet found the perfect project and location - the tiny Qalito island, which is a two-hour ferry ride from the Fijian mainland.

The couple have been accepted as volunteers with Coral Cay Conservation, the UK's only charity dedicated to protecting coral reefs and tropical forests.

The pair will jet off to Fiji next month and be back behind their desks shortly before Christmas.

Mr Cowell added: "We will be working with a small team of volunteers and will only have contact with the outside world in emergencies. This is an opportunity of a lifetime for both of us."

They have spent the past few months learning to dive, and, although they are paying their own expedition and travel expenses, they need to raise more than £2,000 to pay for essential diving and medical equipment to allow them to survey the coral reef off the island's shore.

The pair are hoping local companies and organisations may be interested in sponsoring them.

Anyone able to help should contact Mrs Cowell on 0774 779 2603 or Mr Cowell on 0788 772 1876