YOUNG sailor Nicola Dolling will be joining the crew of Stavros Niarchos for the Tall Ships Race after giving up chocolate for a month.

Nicola, from Beaconsfield, deprived her sweet tooth in order to raise the £1,449 sponsorship money needed to take part in the race.

She also hosted a dinner party for 22 people charging £15 a head, did lots of baby sitting and worked at her mother's company for a week.

Nicola said giving up chocolate was harder than she thought and it was a great relief to unwrap some after reaching her cash target.

She said: "I am looking forward to the challenge of taking part in such an exciting adventure and I am sure it will be a once in a lifetime experience."

The Helly Hansen Store in Bicester Village presented Nicola with a jacket for her trip.

Nicola leaves for her trip of a life time on July 19 and will get back in time for her AS exam results. She will sail from Alesund in Norway to Esbjerg in Denmark which will take about three weeks.