Secretary Katrina Andrews is preparing to swap her notebook and pen for a canoe paddle and lifejacket.

Katrina, 23, of Mill Road, West Mersea, leaves for the wilds of Canada tomorrow for a 90-mile canoe trip down Ontario's Spanish River.

She is aiming to complete a Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award in business and raise cash for heart charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (Cry) after the death of close friend 20-year-old Craig Rampton.

She said: "It's something that I would never normally do and this is a complete first time for me. I'm looking forward to it now and can't wait to go, its a really good cause," she added.

Katrina, who works at Crowe Insurance in Colchester, had to complete a British Canoeing Union qualification plus months of gruelling fitness training for her five-day trip.

Anyone who wants to help Katrina raise money for Cry can call Michelle on 01206 761234

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.