TWO teenage girls are planning trips of a lifetime – but first they each have to raise thousands of pounds from sponsors or events.

Katie Bulmer, 15, who lives with her parents and brother, Harry, at Little Barugh, near Malton, is planning to raise £3,500 to go to Malawi, while Olivia Major, 15, who lives in Malton, has her eyes set on Borneo under the auspices of Camps International but first has to raise £4,000.

Katie, who attends Scarborough College, and Olivia, who goes to Ryedale School, have been organising a series of events in their bids to reach their targets before they set off in summer next year – and more events are in the pipeline.

Katie has so far raised £2,050 for the trip run by Outlook Expeditions which will take her and schoolfriends to Malawi in summer next year.

“The purpose of the trip is to go out there and help with the local community and hopefully we will help to build a classroom and teach the children,” she said.

The biggest money-spinning event was a dinner at her home for a number of people which raised £903.

Olivia, whose father, Steve, died while out riding his bicycle in Dalby Forest last December, has raised about £1,500 and is planning a barbecue with her mother, Jackie, and sister, Nicole, at the forest in memory of Steve at the end of this month.

Katie has also taken part in bag packing at the Co-op store in Pickering, baking for visitors to the Ashford Caravan Park at Kirkbymoorside run by her father, Stuart, and a cake stall at Kirkbymoorside Church.

Other events being planned include a cake stall at St Leonard & St Mary’s RC Church and bag packing with others going on the trip somewhere in Scarborough.

She has also distributed bags provided by Bags for the Future to houses in Kirby Misperton and Little Barugh for residents to put in unwanted clothes. The company will then pay her an amount for each filled bag.

Her mother, Sally, who runs Bulmers Lettings Agency in Malton, said: “It is the trip of a lifetime so we are very much supporting Katie in what she is doing.

“She is working really hard to raise the money and has been very dedicated in putting her plans into action.”

Olivia, who will have finished her GCSEs just before the trip, and her schoolfriends will be helping to build a school in Borneo and help children there such as teaching them English.

The money she has raised so far has come from car boot sales, fundraising games, persuading others to fill Smartie tubes with 20ps, a raffle and selling buns at the local farmers’ market.

As well as the barbecue her mother is planning a number of lunches at their home.

Olivia is also hoping to have a stall at the Ryedale Show and there is even talk of her sitting in a bath of baked beans. There are also plans for Nicole to carry out nail painting sessions at various places.

Olivia said: “I am looking forward to the trip.”

Both girls said they wanted to thank all those who have helped them so far.