BRAVE pupils George Alley and Hannah Colvin have been pushing themselves through the pain barrier to raise money for a school trip.

The Hummersknott School students are part of a group of pupils who will travel to Nepal next year to visit schools and trek through the Himalayas.

All the students need to raise £1,500 to take part in the trip of a lifetime.

Yesterday footballer George Alley, 14, raised £220 by having his legs waxed in the school hall.

He said: "The pain wasn't that bad actually. There were about 50 people watching. I let the girls do it, but they weren't very good. They have left a few tufts."

Yesterday Hannah, who is doing a sponsored silence, could not speak to The Northern Echo - for obvious reasons.

Teacher Dave Bell, who is organising the big trip said she was usually one of the chattiest students in school.

"Her mother said if she could keep quiet for a week she would give her £50 and now she is doing it. I think she's raised about £300," said Mr Bell.

George added: "People keep trying to get her to speak, but she is doing really well."

Mr Bell said: "We have about 43 students going and they are getting really excited."