TWO students from Dorchester will be embarking on a quest to India as part of their gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Public Services students Johnny Brown and Joe Temple,  from Kingston Maurward College, will be travelling to India as part of the expedition module of the DofE course.

The nationally recognised award teaches skills and confidence and the awards are achieved by completing a personal programme of activities in four sections – volunteering, physical, skills, expedition and, for gold, a residential module.

The friends are currently studying Level 2 public services.

For their expedition module they will take part in a month-long expedition to the Himalayas run by local charity the Dorset Expeditionary Society.

During the trip they expect to white water raft on the Indus River, mountain bike the Zanskar Mountains and trek in the Himalayas.

Johnny, from Weymouth, achieved his bronze and silver awards through the Wey Valley School DofE unit and hopes to be accepted into the Royal Marines once he finishes college.

Joe, from Poole, started the Duke of Edinburgh Award at gold level having not previously studied towards an award.

He is keen to join the police or fire service once he has completed his studies.

To qualify for a place on the expedition both passed fitness tests and selection weekends run by Royal Marine Nicol Hemmings, who said he was impressed with their fitness.

Both students said they credit their course for getting their fitness levels up to standard, with activities on the Level 2 Public Services course including river log runs, 3-4 mile cross country training runs, and a regular 1.5 mile race. Recent training also included a Marine training exercise. To pay for the trip the students have begun raising funds, hosting events and doing sponsored runs and cake sales.

Johnny said: “The trip will change my life in many ways – partly by just going to India, but I will also make some new friends. It’s not a holiday, it’ll be hard, and will test my body to its limits. There will be highs and lows but I just can’t wait to go.”