A HAMPSHIRE student is preparing to leave the comforts of home and embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

Laura Fitzgerald from Locks Heath will be jetting off to a remote area of Indonesia this summer to study tourism in the Wakatobi National Park far from friends, family, and running water.

The 21-year-old undergraduate will study the economic role tourism plays in tribal areas in South East Sulawesi, as part of her second year geography dissertation at Portsmouth University.

During the trip Laura will stay with a tribal family and take part in tribal celebrations to immerse herself in their way of life.

With no running water or electricity it will be a challenging six weeks.

Before she even gets there Laura has must raise £3,000 to cover the total cost of the project.

She is staging a fun horseracing gambling event at the Sultans Club in Locks Heath on April 15 to raise funds and is looking for sponsorship.

She has already raised enough to travel around Asia for a mini-travelling tour before arriving in Indonesia.

The trip has been organised by Operation Wallacea, a non-profit organisation which works with local tribespeople to implement measures so the island operates in a sustainable manner.

If you would like to find out more about the horseracing night in Locks Heath or sponsor her contact her at Lazza@fitzie.co.uk.