ABERGAVENNY physiotherapist Alice Dawson is giving up her job to travel to Nepal in the New Year.

Alice, 23, of South Leigh, Llanvetherine graduated from Keele University before getting her firstjob at Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny.

Together with Theresa Mohan, her friend from university, Alice is going to work at the hospital and rehabilitation centre for disabled children at Banepa in the Kathmandu Valley, a leading referral centre for physically handicapped children.

Said Alice: "Before embarking on a specialised career, we want to fulfil our ambition to work abroad as a volunteer and expand our knowledge in rehabilitation and paediatric care.

"We have been accepted on a placement organised by Teaching and Projects Abroad and we believe our experience in Nepal will help us if we decide to specialise in paediatrics in our future careers."

She explained that the hospital where they will be based is the only one of its kind in Nepal, so children travel from all over the country to receive the treatment they need after accidents, TB, polio or because they suffer from cerebral palsy.

To take up their placement, both women have had to raise £4,000 to pay for flights, placement fee, vaccination and kit costs. As well as working overtime, Alice has been making Christmas cards, and she sold some of them at the Llanddewi Skirrid village fair on Saturday, where she is pictured at her stall.