A GREENWICH couple are preparing to embark on a gap year with a difference while raising awareness of the British Red Cross.

Emma Sullivan, 21, and 22-year-old Dexter Boyce will be trekking to Everest base camp, living off less than $2 a day in India, and working on a tree and wildlife conservation project in Madagascar in a bid to raise £2,500 for the humanitarian charity.

The couple, who met at the University of Greenwich while studying business, will take part in the challenge from September 5 to July next year.

Miss Sullivan said: "Having only recently finished university, we are no strangers to living on cheap food and sleeping on lumpy mattresses, but this is a whole new level for us.

“From facing blood sucking leeches in Nepal to sleeping in ger (yurt) tents in Mongolia in 30 degree heat, this trip will present a lot of challenges but we can’t wait to get going.”

The pair, who live at MacMillan Student Village, have funded the trip by saving their earnings from their summer internships at banks, selling unwanted things on Ebay and holding a boot sale.

For information, visit ofbackpacksbeansandbenevolence.weebly.com and to sponsor the couple, visit justgiving.com/ofbackpacksbeansandbenevolence