A TEENAGER from Gobowen is approaching the final hurdle in her fundraising efforts.

Tia Evans,15, has been raising money for a trip to Greece with her school The Marches, in July next year – where they will be learning about marine environments and the issues surrounding them.

Tia has raised more than two thirds of her fundraising target, through working at s family salon as a 'Saturday girl' during the summer holidays and donating her own birthday and Christmas money – but she still has £700 left to find.

Tia's mum, Jo Evans, said that her daughter has been saving up her own money in order to fund the eye-opening trip.

"For a 15-year-old she's been working really hard," said Jo.

"Tia really wanted a iPad Pro. But she said to me, I won't have one of those for Christmas mum, I still have £700 to raise.

"All the money she earns has gone towards it. There's no luxury in the trip either. It's a little like backpacking.

"They'll be spending four days clearing up in the sea and three days with the turtles."

Tia – who is one of around only 20 students in her year to go on the trip – added that she is glad she will be helping with such an important issue.

"It's to help the environment," she said. " So many turtles and sea animals are killed from our actions, rubbish and pollution.

"I just want to do my bit to help."

But Tia's fundraising does not stop there, as the teenager is also raising money for the Alzheimers Society in memory of her granddad.

"Tia is passionate about raising money for the Alzheimers society," Jo added.

"She sadly lost her granddad to it in 2017, and at the age of 15, she now feels she would like to help raise vital funds to help other families affected by this illness.

"We're so proud of Tia. She is working extremely hard to raise as much money as possible for her trip to Greece and for the Alzheimers society.

"She has already raised more than £1,200 for her Greece trip by working additional hours, a raffle at work and using her birthday and Christmas money towards this in 2018 and she plans to do the same in 2019."

Tia's next fundraising event is on Saturday, November 2 at Oswestry Cricket Club where she will be hosting a race night and a raffle with many prizes up for grabs.

Doors open at 7pm with the first race at 7.30pm. Tickets are £3 and can be bought from Jo on 07977252964.