Pupils at Kingdown School launched their expedition to Mount Everest last Thursday, with the money raised from the trip going to Dorothy House and Children’s Hospice South West.

The 25 pupils will take on the challenge in December 2014 and they will have to raise the money required to go on the expedition themselves through sponsorship and fundraising activities.

Nick Trimby, who is running the expedition, said: “The pupils will have to prepare for the altitude and other challenging conditions, which is why we’ve already started holding training sessions after school.

“We will also organise walks each term to help them prepare. They will get so much out of this experience, especially as they have to raise the money themselves.”

Local company RACS Group, which is based in the Three Horseshoes Walk, has agreed to help the school’s fundraising attempts, supplying T-shirts for the expedition and paying for travel expenses during training.

Managing director of RACS Group Terry Hillier, a former pupil at Kingdown School, said: “We just wanted to give something back to the community, especially as I grew up in Warminster and went to Kingdown.”

Community fundraiser for Dorothy House Yvonne Brunton, who attended the launch event, said: “It’s an amazing challenge and they will be supporting us and Children’s Hospice South West for two years, which is great.”