STUDENT Freddie Kanisius Pocock is raising money for Nepal after experiencing the earthquake first hand.

The 19-year-old from Ramsbury was in Kathmandu visiting friends at the time of the disaster on April 25.

He managed to get a flight on the Wednesday after the earthquake organised by the charity he was volunteering for – FutureSense Foundation.

He said: “I could feel it in my legs and I could see buildings falling down behind me and there was dust everywhere.

“I managed to send a text home to say that I was okay and then phone signal was down for days.

“Most people knew that it was safer to stay outside away from the buildings because of aftershocks but there was a very frightened atmosphere.”

Mr Kanisius Pocock had been in Nepal for two weeks and, although he had to cut his planned three month visit short, he is planning to return in the summer.

Since returning to the UK, Mr Kanisius Pocock, a former student at St John's Academy in Marlborough, has thrown himself into fundraising for Newbury-based FutureSense Foundation, which supports community development in some of the poorest regions of the world, including Nepal.

On Sunday Mr Kanisius Pocock turned a few heads at the Ramsbury five-mile run as he made his way around the route dressed as a yak.

He completed the race in 45 minutes and raised £330 on the way which he will add to his online fundraising total.

Mr Kanisius Pocock, who will be going to Portsmouth University in September to study geology, is also going into schools to organise fundraising events such as non-uniform days.

He said: “I am trying to raise awareness of the situation in Nepal and raise funds for FutureSense Foundation."

To sponsor Mr Kanisius Pocock visit uk.virginmoneygiving.co.uk/FreddieKanisiusPocock