FRIENDS and family are going the extra mile to rally support for a student at Thomas Hardye School.

Emily Heath, 17, is flying to Sri Lanka to spend a month working with children orphaned by the tsunami disaster.

To raise £1,500 for the trip the teenager is hosting a concert tonight at St Aldhelm's Church in Spa Road, Radipole, Weymouth.

Friends are showing their support by performing trombone pieces, male duets, show songs and classical piano works.

Emily, of Swaffield Gardens, Wyke Regis, said: "We're hoping there should be something for everybody."

Pupils from Wyke Regis Junior School, where Emily's mother is a teaching assistant, will be performing a Sri Lankan dance she has taught them.

Emily will be living and working with a family friend who is a patron of a Sri Lankan orphanage.

Her brother Jamie, 15, boyfriend Adam Seery, 19, and two friends, Tom Salmon, 14, and Steven Palmer, 21, will be tackling a triathlon this evening to raise money for the cause.

Starting from Emmanuel Church in Radipole Lane, the foursome will cycle to the Pier Bandstand where they will leave their bikes and swim to the Pavilion before running up Dorchester Road and Radipole Park Drive to join the concert at St Aldhelm's.

Emily said: "They really wanted to help raise money so they need as many supporters and sponsors as they can get.

"They are all quite sporty so I think they are going to make it."

Emily was inspired after seeing the devastation of the tsunami on television.

She said: "After seeing everything on the news I really wanted to help but at the time I didn't know what to do."

The A-level student is hoping to study performing arts after finishing at Thomas Hardye School but isn't ready to make firm plans.

"I think after going to Sri Lanka my whole perspective of what I want to do is going to change, so we will just see how it goes."

The concert is open to the public, starting at 7.30pm and sponsors can contact Emily on 01305 779248.