Teenager George Fisher is setting out on an adventure through America’s Colorado Mountains to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

George, 18, from Colling-bourne Kingston, and his school friend Matt Janes, also 18, from Tisbury, left the UK on Tuesday and will begin the 486-mile Colorado Trail on July 18.

The pair, who have just finished Sixth Form at Dauntsey School in West Lavington, are expecting to complete the challenge, which will see them climb a total of 80,000 feet, by August 21.

George said: “We’ve both had friends who have had cancer, so we want to raise money for the trust.

“We wanted to go outside of Europe because a lot of people do walks there. The Colorado Trail seemed like a good choice.

“We’ve been training for a couple of months, walking with weights, but we can’t prepare for things like the altitude. When we get there, we have a few days to prepare and to pick up food supplies.

“We have found some contacts out there through school who have experience in this sort of challenge, so we’re going to meet up with them.”

During the month-long challenge the teenagers will be sleeping in tents and carrying their supplies with them.

George said: “It will be quite different because when you camp in England you usually stay on camp sites, whereas we’ll be in wild camps.

“It feels like we’ve packed everything under the sun into our rucksacks.”

To sponsor George and Matt, visit www.justgiving.

com/ct-trek