A WOULD-BE medic is volunteering for unpaid work experience in trying conditions in neighbouring African nations.

But Fiona McGlade must first reach a £1,500 fundraising target by late February if she is to take part in the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) placements to Zambia and Tanzania from March.

The 18-year-old gap year student from North End, Durham, hopes to win a place at medical school in the next academic year, but she has opted to earn experience on the five-month expedition to the impoverished central Africa nations.

Western creature comforts will be left behind as she works with HIV/AIDS patients in Zambia for three months before spending the last two months helping in an orphanage over the border in Tanzania.

“I’m fully aware conditions will be very different to what I'm used to, but I’m really looking forward to it,” said the former Durham Johnston School pupil.

“What is really good is that I’ll be living with a local host family, so I'll get a true picture of life as it is for people out there.

“It’s not going to be a holiday, and I’m aware it will be difficult at times, but it should be a great experience and very rewarding.”

As part of her efforts to reach the £1,500 target she took part in a five kilometre Santa Run at York Racecourse, earlier this month, and in coming weeks will be doing the full gambit of fund raising tasks, from bag packing to street collections and cake sales.

Her first school, Nevilles Cross Primary, in Durham, has also agreed to stage a non-uniform day to help their ‘old girl’, next term.

But any other sponsorship would be more than welcomed by Miss McGlade.

Donations can be made via www.justgiving.com/Fiona-McGlade or by text to FMCG94, stating the amount to be pledged, to 70070.