join the Up With People programme this summer.

Miss Richardson, who learned of her acceptance by the travelling song and dance troupe last year, has raised close to $6,000 -- or 65 percent of her goal -- in pursuit of that end.

But the Smith's Parish teenager needs about $7,000 more to partake in the programme, which aims to promote "peace through understanding'' by sending young singers and dancers on worldwide tours.

Already, Miss Tawana Flood is trying to raise $10,000 so she can join the group.

Yesterday, Ms Richardson said: "It'll broaden my horizons. I've been dancing all my life and when they (the Up With People performers) came here in May I thought: `It's now or never.' It'll definitely be a character-building experience.'' Miss Richardson, who hopes to study early childhood education in college and dreams of owning her own day-care centre, has raised most of her money to date through bake sales, potluck suppers and a golf tournament at the St. George's Club.

She has also received assistance from Sen. Neletha Butterfield's Care Computer Services and Meyer Agencies Ltd., which provided an airline ticket to a Test Match in Jamaica as a prize in the golf tournament.

The money, which is currently being kept in a special bank account, will cover travel and other expenses during the year-long programme, which runs from July of this year to July, 1996 and includes five weeks of preliminary training in Colorado.

Anyone who would like to help Miss Richardson can do so by contacting her at 236-7129 or at 5 Kilderry Close, Smith's Parish FO02.