A TEENAGER from Bradford on Avon is heading for the snow-capped mountains of Scandinavia next month to help people who are paralysed learn to ski.

Ben Harvey, 17, a pupil at St Laurence School, has signed up to be a 'buddy' on a trip to Sweden with the Back-Up Trust.

The Trust is a national charity supporting people paralysed through spinal cord injuries, and uses sport and outdoor activities to help people come to terms with life in a wheelchair and rebuild their independence and confidence.

Ben's father, Neil, has been volunteering to help on Back-Up Trust trips for the past four years and gave Ben the idea to apply to go in January.

Ben said: "I went on a multi-activities week in the Lake District in the summer with people with lower body injuries.

"A lot of the people on the course were around my age and I got to see what they can and cannot do and learnt how important gaining independence is for people with spinal injuries.

"It was an eye-opener for me and when I got back I knew I had to go on the ski trip.

"Some people on the course have never skied and they will be able to discover a new sport and get some confidence.

"The people who have skied before will realise they can still do the things they did before their injury and feel more independent."

Ben is working as a waiter at Cumberwell Park Golf Club to raise money for the trip but still needs to raise around £700 before he goes at the end of January.

He said: "This is an opportunity for me to learn more about tetraplegia and make a difference to someone's life."

His father Mr Harvey, 45, said: "Ben is desperately trying to find the money to pay for the trip and we have created a database and asked hundreds of businesses in Bradford for their support."