BOREDOM prompted a student to embark on a trip of a lifetime to study glaciers on the Himalayas.

Lucy Jackson, from Millhouse Street, Ramsbottom, won a place on the three week long expedition to northern India alongside thirty other students.

The Bury Grammar School pupil said: “I applied because I was feeling really bored and I didn’t want to waste my summer.”

During the trip, organised by the British Exploration Society, Lucy and the other students will visit hidden peaks to study the geology of the Ladakh region. They will also explore the glaciers in the Zara Valley.

Speaking before setting off, Lucy was looking forward for her journey to begin: “I’m really excited and I just feel ready to go now!”

The trip began in Dehli and Leh, where the group will go on a five day trek to their base camp at 4,800 metres.

Lucy, (17), and the other students will face a number of challenges as they have to acclimatise to high altitude and extreme temperatures. During the day the thermometer could hit thirty degrees before plunging to minus ten overnight.

To earn a coveted place on the expedition, Lucy underwent a rigorous application process which included a lengthy interview.

But the hard work started long before the expedition began, as Lucy had to fundraise in order to join the trip.

She said: “I had to pretty much raise a lot of the money myself. One way I did this was by working for a charity where you exchange volunteering hours for money towards the trip.”

Her volunteering involved working for charities and teaching in Saturday science schools.

Further financial support came when Lucy was awarded with the Dorothy Lester Travel Scholarship from Bury Grammar School. Miss Lester was a former headteacher of the school.