PLANNING to follow in the footsteps of Prince William is 17-year-old St. Florence girl, Lucy Paice.

Like Prince William two years ago, the Greenhill student will be heading south of the Equator on a three-month Raleigh International project next year.

While the future heir to the throne visited Chile for his three months with Raleigh International, Lucy's chosen destination is the Central American country of Costa Rica as part of a gap year before starting a degree course at university in September 2004.

A senior prefect currently studying for her A levels, Lucy has always enjoyed an active lifestyle and is relishing the challenges ahead in Costa Rica.

"Raleigh International helps young people work in many different parts of the world and, by involving them in a range of projects, helps them to grow and understand other aspects of our world; I'm really looking forward to it," said Lucy.

The projects Lucy will undertake revolve around a series of work related areas, including community - which will involve helping to build schools, youth hostels and the like; environmental - helping to build an artificial reef; and adventure, including white water kayaking.

To gain her place on the trip to Costa Rica in October 2003, Lucy not only had to submit a written application, but also take part in a gruelling selection weekend in Oxfordshire.

As well as testing her map reading skills, Lucy was also tested on her ability to 'rough it' and work with other members of a group.

She is also grateful to Sarah Diment, of Penally, for the tremendous support she has given her.

Sarah works with the Rathbone Trust in Haverfordwest and arranged an introduction with Tony Davies, who was one of Prince William's instructors in Chile.

As well as meeting Tony, Lucy was also able to talk to James Owen, who was on a similar Raleigh project in Africa last year.

An accomplished skier and snowboarder, Lucy also surfs, is learning to kick-box and has been a member of Tenby Surf Lifesaving Club for many years. A qualified Junior Life Saver, Lucy could swim three miles by the age of eight.

She also started sailing with Pembrokeshire Water Sports, aged eight, while a pupil at St. Florence School. She continued sailing with the school on Pembroke Castle pond and was part of the five-strong team to win the Pembrokeshire Schools Regatta for St. Florence in 1995.

A former member of Tenby Sailing Club, Lucy now regularly sails for Saundersfoot Sailing Club. She was also chosen for the Welsh Youth sailing squad in 1999 and hopes to study for a degree within the marine leisure industry.

Having already achieved her bronze Duke of Edinburgh award, Lucy is now working towards her silver and hopes to complete her gold before leaving school.

In her spare time, Lucy, the daughter of Roger and Julia Paice, of Grove Farmhouse, St. Florence, helps out at St. Florence Youth Club and is a junior instructor at Ritec Valley Buggies.

To enable her to undertake the trip to Central America, Lucy has to raise £3,500, which goes towards the management, materials, fares and food for all the projects Raleigh International manages.

She intends to raise the money in a variety of ways, including collections, talks, work, friends and family and appeals to local and national agencies, schools, and organisations and companies which often support worthy causes.

As she will be raising money for a charitable organisation, for every £1 Lucy raises the Government will donate 28p, and she hopes to raise the total in full by August next year.

All enquiries and donations would be most welcome. For further information, Lucy can be contacted on (01834) 871730.