A VOLUNTEER is taking part in the adventure of a lifetime to help raise money for poor children in the former Soviet Union and eastern Europe.

Yesterday, a group of 20 volunteers were due to leave Heathrow to take part in Trek Romania to raise funds on behalf of EveryChild.

Among the trekkers is John Hirst, a manager at Huntsman Tioxide, in Billingham, who has sponsored Elena Motoi, from Cluj Napoca, in Romania, through The Christian Children's Fund of Great Britain (CCF GB).

Elena is partially sighted and attends a school for blind children which is some distance from her family. EveryChild financially supports the school via a project managed by a local charity.

EveryChild is a new international development children's charity brought about by the merger of the CCF GB and The European Children's Trust.

The party is travelling to Romania for a two-day trek through Transylvania. On the first day, they will complete a five-hour trek into the Bucegi Mountains. The following day, the volunteers will complete a nine-hour trek across the Bucegi plateau and through the spectacular valley of Bucegi to Bran, legendary home of the castle of Count Dracula.

To make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/johntrek or send a cheque to Trek Romania, EveryChild, 4 Bath Place, Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3DR.