York University student Bethany Gray is in a race against time to raise money so she can play for England at the European Lacrosse Championships later this summer.

She is busy trying to find the basic cost of £600 to pay for the trip to Germany but is determined to get there come what may as she takes a big step towards her dream of playing in next year's world championships.

Since starting at York University two years ago the 20-year-old north Londoner has been selected for Yorkshire and England Under-21s, playing in the home internationals in Wales where she helped England to victory.

Bethany, who has also represented her home county of Kent and boarding school county of Kent at lacrosse, was eligible to play for Yorkshire as a student at a university in the county.

She was selected earlier this year to play for the senior North lacrosse squad, previously having played in the reserves, and this took her to two tournaments where her performances led to a call-up for trials with the senior England squad, where she was successful.

The European Championships take place near Frankfurt from July 25 to August 10 and as well as having to find the basic cost for the trip she needs other essentials including her kit. York University Athletic Union are looking into various funding opportunities to help her. Ideally she wants to have the finances sorted out by the end of this month.

A defender who loves to venture into attack and score goals, Bethany is one of the younger members of the England squad, whose average age is 27.

"England are one of the strongest lacrosse teams in Europe, along with the other home countries, and we should hopefully do well in Germany. The host country and the Czech Republic are also likely to be strong.

"My dream would be to play in the world championships in America next year," she said, "but at the moment it's a dream. There's a lot can happen before then."

Updated: 11:34 Saturday, June 07, 2003