A teenager is fundraising after being selected to represent the region at an international camp in South Africa.

St John Ambulance cadet, Patryk Pawlowski, from Shildon, is raising money to attend the health charity’s International Cadet Camp 2020 in South Africa.

The 15-year-old will take part in a CPR marathon today, August 3, at the Fun4All family event in his home town at Timothy Hackwork Park.

Between 11am and 3pm, he will join fellow city of Durham unit volunteers to take it in turns to give chest compressions to a practice dummy, demonstrating the life-saving technique to members of the public.

The marathon will form part of the teenager’s efforts to raise £1,850 for the camp in Cape Town.

The youngster was chosen from hundreds of the charity’s young volunteers to represent his district at the camp, which was previously held in countries such as Malaysia, New Zealand and Wales.

The cadet corporal, who joined the charity four years ago, has already raised nearly £1,000 by organising two car boot sales and a tombola at Spennymoor Gala.

The Durham County Priory Group (CPG) has raised £200 and £50 has been donated by the regional automobile branch of Unite the Union.

Mr Pawlowski said: “I’m looking forward to learning from cadets from about 20 different countries about different lifestyles and communities around the world. I hope to bond with them and learn more about our international charity, too.

“This is a great honour to me and an experience for the rest of my life.”

St John Ambulance unit leader, Wendy Hall, said the teenager was a kind, caring and exciting individual who threw himself into the charity’s many voluntary activities.

She said: “Patryk is a valued member of the city of Durham unit. He is an example to the other cadets and we are very proud that he has been chosen to represent our region at the International Cadet Camp.”

To donate, to the cadet's cause visit gofundme.com/f/patryk039s-south-africa-icc or for more information about joining St John Ambulance cadets, visit sja.org.uk