A TEACHER from St Albans will be putting her paces to the test as takes part in a 100 kilometre trek in north Yorkshire.

Laura Wilson, 25, a maths teacher at Townsend School, along with her sister Rachael Wilson, 23, brother Iain Wilson 20, and their cousin Hazel Locker 22, have been preparing for the Oxfam Trailtrekker walk across the Yorkshire Dales.

The charity is close to Laura's heart, having volunteered in an Oxfam bookshop for seven months.

She said: “It's a charity I am very fond of because they come up with so many interesting and rewarding ways to raise money.”

Laura said the four of them are excited and looking forward to the trek which spans two days on June 4 and 5.

However she said they are prepared for the aches and pains to follow. “We have planned a 25-mile prep walk this Saturday and we have purchased new poles and boots so we can't wait," she added.

“We are confident we can do it in less than 25 hours. It's scary because we ached so much after a fast paced ten mile walk, but we know we can get through it.”

To volunteer, and help others in need, has been a lifelong passion of Laura's. She said: “I love the work I do at Oxfam, I wish I had started younger when I had more spare time.

“I usually give four hours of my weekend, and love meeting new people and learning different skills I just wouldn't learn in my current job.

“As a teacher I would like to encourage students to get involved with volunteering, especially those in the sixth form. It is getting more and more difficult to get into university these say and a history of volunteer work would look great on an application CV.”

To help Laura and the team reach their £2,000 fundraising target visit   http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/goingforgoldupnorth