ADVENTUROUS teenager Stephen Deslandes is aiming to take a walk on the wild side... with a little help from generous benefactors. For the 16-year-old from Andrew Avenue in Billinge, has been selected for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the jungles of Malaysia later this year - provided he can drum up £900 worth of sponsorship.

Stephen and his chum Jonathon Butler, from Wigan, are the only non-Manchester residents to be selected for the Fulcrum Challenge, a development programme which gives pre A-Level students the chance to demonstrate their leadership qualities. The challenge was set up by a combined initiative involving British Airways, the Scientific Exploration Society and the Institute of Directors. And the pals, who both go to Deanery High School were chosen for the 20-place scheme following an exacting weekend selection process at an army training camp in Lancashire.

Stephen told the Star: "The camp was quite tough and featured a number of activities including an army assault course and we were delighted to be chosen, especially since we are the only two who don't come from Manchester."

Now that they have been selected, Stephen (16) and 17 year old Jonathon will have to undertake four separate phases of the challenge - Director Shadowing, set up by the IoD; an Environmental Project with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers; a Leadership Conference; and finally, an Overseas Phase which will see them travel to Malaysia in March for a two-week expedition through the jungle where they will meet people from local villages and find out how they run their own communities.

However, they each have to raise £900 towards the cost of the trip and Stephen added: "Although the organisers are paying most of the money, we have to cover £900 of it. We have already sent out letters to local businesses asking them for sponsorship but we would be grateful to any individual sponsors as well."

If you can help Stephen and Jonathon, you can contact them on St Helens 893160.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.