RIBBLE Valley teenagers are gearing up for a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ trip to India to help treat people with cleft palates.

Charles Knott, 15, Molly Marsland, 15, Elizabeth Golding, 17, and Ben Fourie, 15, will make the trip in the new year, with 42 doctors, surgeons, and nurses from the Northern Cleft Foundation.

Clitheroe Royal Grammar School pupil Ben, from Wilpshire, will make the journey with Billington’s St Aug- ustine’s RC students Charles, from Wilpshire, and Molly, from Langho.

Former St Augustine’s pupil Eliz-abeth, from Salesbury, who now att-ends St Mary’s College, in Blackburn, will join them in flying to Nagpur on January 10 for the 12-day trip.

The group have been fundraising for months for the charity, and are aiming to raise as much as they can before they fly out.

To date, the charity has provided free operations for 1,200 children and adults with facial deformities, or cleft palates.

Charles said: “I’m really looking forw- ard to it and I hope it will be a great experience. I’ve never been so far away from home before, and I hope to learn a lot while I’m out there.”

Molly’s mum, Alison, said: “Molly’s aunt Hazel has been going out with the foundation for years, and it will be a fantastic opportunity for Molly.

“I’m nervous for her going over there of course, but I hope she has a great time.

“She will come into contact and situations that she has never come across before and I hope that it will be rewarding.”

St Augustine’s headteacher, Michael Wright, said: “The whole school is very proud of all of them. and it will be such a great chance for them.

“They will gain so much exper-ience from the trip and they are fund- raising hard for the charity ahead of going out there.

“The school is fully behind them, and I’m sure they will have a very rewarding time in India.”