AN ADVENTUROUS teenager hopes to conquer his biggest challenge yet – raising over £6,000 to cover the cost of a gap year in Zambia.

Scott Forrest, 18, has been offered the volunteering opportunity by charity Project Trust. After completing a five-day selection course on the Isle of Coll, the Bearsden Academy pupil was successfully chosen to teach maths and physics at a secondary school in Zambia.

However, he needs to raise £6,200 by the end of June to cover the costs of his training, travel, medical insurance and support across the year, both at home and abroad.

Scott said: "I'm currently receiving offers from universities. I'm planning to study engineering, however I wanted to first do something more adventurous, challenging and less 'in a bubble of home' than university. And if I could help people at the same time then I would have achieved everything I hoped to."

To reach his fundraising target, the teen has been selling his photography, tutoring, offering his babysitting and gardening services, and writing as many letters as he can to trust funds for grants. He's also organising a quiz night and music gig with some of his friends who are in bands.

The daredevil Scout, who loves hill walking, skiing and indoor climbing, hopes to raise the bulk of the money via a sponsored climb in which he will scale the height of Mount Everest within five days – using Ben Lomond.

Scott said: "I have calculated that if I climb using a particular loop route nine times, I will have achieved an overall ascent of 8,910 metres, a little over the height of Mount Everest.

"It's quite a challenge even if I don't have to contest with glaciers and lack of oxygen."

The teen's inspiration is Bear Grylls. He used to watch a lot of his shows and even had aspirations to join the SAS.

Scott said: "I'm fired up to do this challenge, and am in training for it – climbing Ben Lomond itself and also Dumgoyne, which is close to home and a smaller hill, but a steep, tough wee thing – good to climb a few times in a row.

"Training has been made more difficult with snow, rain and wind but I'm enjoying the challenges they bring and you always feel extra triumphant after a bad weather day."

He added: "It's a tough challenge to climb the equivalent of Mount Everest, but fundraising can be even tougher."

To help Scott achieve his goal, donate via uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ScottForrest1 or send a cheque to 7 Carse View Drive, Glasgow, G61 3NJ made payable to Project Trust.