A MARLOW schoolboy is all set to jet off to Africa and lend a hand with a charity project after his yeargroup spent a week raising money for the cause.

Year eight Great Marlow pupil Ben Roddick will make the trip to Tanzania as part of the Walser’s Tanzania Charity efforts in the country.

And last week the school gathered to present a cheque for £1335 to the charity’s founders Alfons and Herta Walser after year eight’s week spent holding events and doing favours for the cash.

Head of year Stuart Ross said: “I initially said this might be a good idea and then each form came up with ideas for fundraising.

"It’s entirely their own work and planning and the teachers just helped implement them. I’m just blown away by their efforts and very proud.

“The vast majority of kids were doing this in their own time and own their own initiative, and it makes me immensely proud."

Year eight pupils washed cars, ran a charity treadmill challenge and threw wet sponges at teachers to pull in the charity cash.

Ben will fly out with his parents to the east African nation to get involved with some of the work by the Walsers, who founded the organisation after visiting the country in 1994.

The 12-year-old will take computer equipment for Tanzanian schoolchildren, as well as organise a sports day in a village school.

Mr Ross said: "I am very proud of him. Before we started fundraisng he did a presentation to the whole of Year 8 (200 pupils) about the charity, that alone is a very brave thing to do and kick started the whole project.

“He will be interacting with the children and helping at their school. They also love sports and so does Ben so I would imagine he will be playing football with them at every opportunity!”

The Walser’s Tanzania Charity aims to sssist young people to access education. Improve health facilities, and provide safe drinking water in rural areas of the country, where there is poverty and a severe lack of resources.