IT WAS not just the environment that got a helping hand when a Suffolk student went to Fiji on a conservation project.Anthony Collett decided to make his trip of a lifetime help out someone less fortunate than himself and raise money for the East Anglia's Children's Hospice.

IT WAS not just the environment that got a helping hand when a Suffolk student went to Fiji on a conservation project.

Anthony Collett decided to make his trip of a lifetime help out someone less fortunate than himself and raise money for the East Anglia's Children's Hospice. (EACH).

Designing an ingenious long distance game of buried treasure, friends, relatives and colleagues all joined in with the 18-year-old's spirit of adventure.

They all put money in to buy tracts of land on the island in the hope of uncovering items of buried treasure, raising a massive £1,250 for EACH.

The treasure, donated by people and businesses in the area included a case of fine wines, tickets for an Ipswich v Norwich match and 'an evening with Jono Daniel' a jazz pianist from Hoxne who agreed to play for a couple of hours at a party or suitable event.

EACH have children's hospices across the region including one in Ipswich.

Anthony was in Fiji as part of a Marine Conservation Project which involves camping out on an uninhabited island with 16 others to conduct a diving survey.

The object of the study was to assist the government of Fiji to establish a marine national park similar to the Galapagos Islands and the Barrier Reef.

They also had to work with fishermen in the area to educate them in ways of fishing. At the moment many of them rely on using dynamite or poison to kill the fish.

Anthony said: "This really is the trip of a lifetime but I am so pleased it isn't just me who benefits from this wonderful opportunity to travel.

"I realise I have been very lucky, it's been great fun."

His father Ian said that while on the island, the group had to do all their own cooking but each one of them were adopted by families of the fisherman and spent Sundays with them – even going off to church on Sundays.

Anthony, formerly a pupil of Felsted School in Great Dunmow, Essex, is taking a gap year out before studying engineering at Exeter University in the autumn,

Now his work on the island is finished he is spending some time in Australia on a sheep stud farm before returning to England for the summer.

His father, Mr Collett said: "He has had a fantastic time and will have grown up.

"He has managed to raise money to benefit the children and has been a huge experience."