A local girl is on track to tour in South Africa with Cornwall Girls Cricket Club but need sponsorship to help fund the team’s trip.

For the last twenty years Cornwall Cricket Board has made trips to South Africa for their young players, giving them the opportunity to play the game they love in a new and exciting setting and against high quality opponents. These friendships last lifetimes.

This year the opportunity has been extended for the first time to the Girls Under 17 team, including local girl Charlotte Gilbert  (who studied at Roseland Community College). Cornwall is blazing a trail for girls cricket as one of the few counties in England to organise an overseas tour for the young female players.

Charlotte told  Roseland Online “We are very fortunate to have some fantastic facilities in Cornwall and some of the prettiest grounds in the country to play on. We are planning on taking our love of the game and enthusiasm to promote girls cricket to South Africa in February as we take on some of the country’s upcoming star players.

“We are lucky enough to have two players in our squad that have been chosen to play for England under 19’s ladies team and have bright cricketing futures in front of them.”

The game teaches the girls lots more than just being able to leather on willow. Resilience, commitment and determination are some of the qualities they show week in week out, all year round as they dedicate their time to develop their skills.

The girls must raise an individual target of £2200 each. To help with this they are running a project developed with Crowd funder. The idea is members of the public can pledge money and in return can get a reward which they can choose. The rewards range in price from a few pounds to larger pledges. Every penny helps as they say and it goes towards the girls total. In addition they have undertaken several bag pack challenges as well as taking on individual events.

Charlotte added “This opportunity for the girls is incredible as in addition to the cricket they will be visiting Pilensburg National Park, Table Mountain and emersing themselves in the culture of South Africa staying with local families for some of their time too.

“We are grateful for any and all help received in helping the team realise their dream and the chance to promote and inspire young female cricketers in Cornwall.”

Anyone wishing to help can do by visiting http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/south-africa-tour-2016