Top triple-jumper Donte Hunt is on track to turn away from athletics for three months -- to go on an African adventure.

The Uganda-bound 20-year-old has been hand-picked for a three-month expedition, helping run a camp and working on community projects.

Donte, of Town Hill Road, Flatts, jets out to London to link up with 120 youngsters for the trip tomorrow.

The group flies out to Kampala, Uganda's capital, for the adventure-of-a-lifetime tomorrow.

"It's one chance in a million,'' said Donte, a student at North Carolina State University, who has won Carifta Games medals for Bermuda.

"I've represented Bermuda at youth level at Carifta Games and my triple-jump training will have to go on hold for three months.

"But I have to consider the life experiences this is going to give me and I really appreciate that opportunity.'' Expedition organisers at UK-based Raleigh International asked Bermuda's Duke of Edinburgh's Scheme leaders to nominate a high-flier for the Uganda adventure. And they proposed to send Donte after he passed his Gold Award with flying colours during a hiking and camping trip to the Bahamas.

Donte, a former Berkeley Institute pupil, is a junior majoring in business management and information systems.

He added: "I really want a career with a major firm but I also want to be the best I can be on the athletic stage.

"My personal best is 49 feet two inches, which is still about eight feet behind Jonathan Edwards' world record, but I feel I'm getting better.

"I train at college and also with the Bermuda Pacers club so this trip will set me back a bit in that sense.

"But I'll pick it up when I return in August -- and I'll have all that Uganda experience under my belt. It's a dream come true.'' A Raleigh International spokesman said: "Community projects are at the heart of every Raleigh expedition.

"Tasks could include such things as building a new school or medical clinic or installing water wells and hand pumps.''