Youngster beats 40,000 others to secure place on Canadian adventure

A 15-year-old army cadet has been chosen out of 40,000 hopefuls for an exciting expedition to Canada.

Year 10 pupil Millie Dunn, who attends Haslingden High School, will embark on a month-long trip, packed with adventures including walking, camping, watersports, climbing and mountain biking.

Millie said: "I have been in the Army Cadets for almost three years now.

"My dad is an ex-Marine and my sister had joined the cadets.

"I was struggling to decide what things to do in school and outside and my dad said give it a go."

She found her niche and has since seized plenty of opportunities.

Having been crowned north-west champion in swimming and selected to represent the cadets nationally at climbing, Millie displayed exceptional talents that stood her in good stead.

These skills coupled with her attributes were tested during a two-day selection process to join the UK team for the exchange programme with Canada.

She said: "Of the 40,000, only 60 were selected to take part in the two-day selection process in Wales, only 20 got places on the team."

Millie is the youngest representative on the team.

She added: "I didn’t expect to get picked, because a lot of the candidates were older and as you can only be in cadets to 18, I thought older members would get selected first for the team.

"I think I got picked because I am a good swimmer and I also have good communication skills."

Millie’s elder sister, Cassie, is also a former Haslingden High School student and cadet, who is now at college and works as a lifeguard in Burnley.

Like Millie, Cassie has had exceptional opportunities through cadets and has previously been selected for the Tall Ships race.