A WINCHESTER teenager is running a cake sale to help him to go to Nepal to do voluntary work for three months.

Jude Wilkinson will be at Alresford market on Thursday December 5 to help raise the £1,500 he needs for the three-month trip with the International Citizen Service.

The cakes have been sourced from a local supplier and Jude will be making some mince pies and parsnip cake.

He has been backed by a neighbour George Reed, of Oberon Solutions, who has pledged £100.

Jude, of Westview Road, Sparsholt, went to Sparsholt primary, Kings’ secondary and Peter Symonds College and plans to go to Warwick University next September to study PPE. He is currently working at Brasserie Blanc in his gap year.

He said: “The work we’re doing in Nepal is really important as it’s about improving sanitation and hygiene for particularly poor, isolated parts of the country. We’ll be based in a community and each volunteer stays with a designated family.

“According to Unicef, 3.5 million people don’t have access to clean water across the country. It’s a complicated problem, but I’m looking forward to making a real difference even in the smallest way.

“At the beginning of the voluntary program, we have to hike out to the village we’re staying with. Once there, we have to steer clear of even domestic animals because of the rabies risk. Food is lentil dhal for lunch and dinner, and for showers we will have to use a cold bucket of water - with a single tarpaulin for privacy. “

His JustGiving page is https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jude-wilkinson.

“In addition to running a cake sale, I’m running the Portsmouth marathon in December. As a non-baker, I’m perhaps more nervous about the cake sale.”