Adventurous youth worker Dave Fleming is swapping the streets of York for the rainforests of Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

The 35-year-old is heading a community and environmental expedition of 150 people to the Central American countries.

Dave, who works for Future Prospects in York, will be helping to manage the trip as a voluntary assistant project manager for youth charity Raleigh International.

He will be putting his job on hold for 12 weeks, from January next year, as he works alongside young people aged between 16 and 25 from across the United Kingdom and Europe, and local volunteers.

Dave said he expected the trip to be very challenging, but worthwhile, and that he hoped to learn a lot by experiencing first hand the Costa Rican and Nicaraguan way of life. He said: "Not only will this expedition benefit the environment, but our efforts will also help the local communities."

As part of fundraising for the trip Dave will be walking 20 miles across the North York Moors this weekend and hopes to raise more than £1,500 in sponsorship.

A pig race, using toy pigs, is also planned for Friday, November 15, at New Earswick Sports and Social Club.

The event, which begins at 8pm, gives participants the opportunity to sponsor the racing pigs and to pick, at random, the batteries that power them.

To sponsor Dave phone him on 07812 986791.

Updated: 12:27 Saturday, November 02, 2002