My wonderful first-born, Lola, has beaten incredible competition and qualified for the opportunity of a lifetime.....In July 2027, after completion of her GCSEs, Lola is hoping to set off on an amazing Amazonian adventure to Peru! Yes, you read that correctly, actual Peru!

On this expedition Lola will spend 10 days based on a research ship in the Yarapa River Varzea forests, which lie between the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve and the Tamshiyacu Community Reserve. (I’m yet to tell her it’s unlikely there’ll be a hairdryer to blow-dry her lashes each morning!) There are two main objectives of the research programme:

• To collect data on the sustainability of forest resource use by the indigenous people

• To provide information on the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic disturbance in the Amazon

Lola will also be completing an Amazonian Wildlife and Conservation course, which comprises of lectures and related activities/discussions on Amazon geography and biodiversity, flooded forest and upland forest ecology, conservation strategies in the Amazon, survey methods, Samiria-Yavari landscape birds, mammals of the Samiria-Yavari landscape, Amazonian fish, amphibians and reptiles, wildlife monitoring and calculating sustainable hunting levels, and examples of best practice conservation management in the Amazon. During the course Lola will also get the opportunity to visit an indigenous Cocama community.

I’m in complete shock that this is even an opportunity! Further details, that did absolutely nothing to curb my jealousy, can be found here: Peru - School Research Expedition

For a long time Lola has had a passion to become a marine biologist (the prospect of being paid to swim in the Maldives and discover new species of marine life may well be the attraction, rather than studying the mud flats of Hull!), and this expedition will gain her so much invaluable experience and confidence to support her with this life goal.

To secure her place Lola needs to fundraise £2600, this will contribute towards the expedition, accommodation and travel – although I’m sure we’ll end up incurring additional luggage costs for all of the beauty products she will very quickly render useless, and a top secret teddy or two

Lola is planning to complete lots of different activities to support her to achieve her fundraising goals; bakes sales (although I’m doubtful of any repeat custom), mud runs (I’m personally keen to see how the fake tan, lashes and nails cope with this one) and since qualifying for her place she has emptied the dishwasher twice!

Joking aside, this is an amazing opportunity which I never thought my anxious homebird would ever consider. Little did I know that encouraging her to go to Morrisons on her own (as long as she didn’t have to speak to anyone) would so quickly lead to this!

I am putting all of my own personal anxieties aside about sending my first-born 6,108.636 miles across the world into the middle of the jungle with very limited ways of contacting her, and absolutely not thinking of all times she might need me, and I won’t be there. I am in full support of this amazing once in a lifetime adventure and I am so proud that my baby girl is prepared to push herself a million miles out of her comfort zone, grab life with both hands and live an actual dream.

This is where our wonderful family, friends, colleagues and general life supporters come in. If you are able to support Lola to make this dream become a reality, then both her and I will be eternally grateful – and she may even volunteer to empty your dishwasher too!

Thank you so much in advance of your support (watch this space for a further GoFundMe link to fund the Gin I will require to self-medicate while she is away!)

You can also support by completing any of your online shopping through this link: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/operation-wallacea-peru-2027-lola-west

Becky and Lola

(I wasn’t allowed to post any pictures of Lola – she took the lesson on internet safety very seriously, of course that doesn’t include the endless ‘Snaps’ with the obligatory side tongue pose that must be flooding cyberspace!)

we also have a easy fundraising link: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/support-a-good-cause/step-1/?char=414142&invite=vpfyki&referral-campaign=c2s&utm_campaign=web-referral