A teacher from Helston Community College will be going on something of an extreme busman’s holiday when she travels to Namibia for charity.

As part of her trip, Jenny Button, maths programme leader for key stage three, will be helping refurbish a school, as well as trek across the Nambi Desert while all the time raising money for Cornwall Hospice Care as part of the Project Namibia experience.

For someone who has never travelled outside of Europe before it is a thrilling prospect.

Mrs Button said: “I’m really excited about the opportunity to see life in a different hemisphere! I'm looking forward to spotting a zebra or maybe even a cheetah. It is sure to be a real eye-opener especially camping in the desert.”

There is a serious side to the trip, however. Mrs Button’s mother died of cancer in February last year and St Julia's Hospice provided her with equipment that enabled her to spend her last days at home with her family.

“I know what an invaluable service the charity provides to the people of Cornwall and this is a great way for me to show my support and to raise some much needed funds to ensure that the hospices survive at what is a very difficult time for them,” said Mrs Button.

To help her to get the most from her trip, Mrs Button is in training to get fit – something that fits with Helston Community College’s “Get Moving and Get Healthy” programme that runs as part of its EcoSchools Silver Award.

The college is fully behind the challenge and on her return Mrs Button hopes to pass on her experience to the students so they can hear all about life in an African community and maybe give them a taster of a Namibian maths lesson. “I'm hoping to learn a lot on the challenge. It's great to be able to help another school and use my experience when I return,” she said. To support Mrs Button contact Helston Community College on 01326 572685.