China trek to follow in Marco Polo's footsteps

James, 13, was one of the participants to be chosen from 11,000 hopefuls to take part in a televised adventure series.

He said: "I want to challenge myself mentally and physically more than I have before.

"The journey will give me a different perspective on life and when I come back I don't think I will take things for granted as I do now.

"I will also enjoy staying with different tribes to see a whole new way of life."

Felpham Community College pupil James will set off in July for a month.

His first destination will be China where he will travel the extreme Silk Road route taken by Polo in the 13th century in search of far eastern treasures.

The route along part of the 5,600 mile journey made by the legendary adventurer will take James through the Taklamakan Desert, the biggest moving sand desert in the world, as part of a camel train.

He will also climb up a 6,000m summit in the Himalayas to meet local tribes and experience how they survive in such a remote place.

The result of his exploration is due to be shown in early 2010 in an 11-part documentary in the BBC's Serious...series.

Sussex 800m champion runner James applied to take part just before last Christmas through the CBBC website.

As the selection process progressed, so the demands made on him became tougher.

They culminated in a weekend in the Black Mountains in Wales with potholing, assault courses and filmed interviews.

"It's going to be amazing to see myself on television," he said. "It's going to be special to see how I come across."

But he has some serious beefing up to do first.

He has to drink two litres of full fat milk a day, plus protein shakes, as well as five meals daily.

The aim is to add a stone to his current six stones ready for the arduous time ahead.

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