A group of youngsters from an earthquake-ravaged area of Pakistan are due to take part in the UK's largest indoor sporting event.
Last year, Pakistan Scout Cadet College (PSCC), in the Batrasi Hills in North West Frontier Province, was largely destroyed by an earthquake that occurred at 5.20am on October 8 last year.
Despite their own problems, cadets and staff were heavily involved in assisting government agencies and other agencies in the immediate relief work.
The college is linked to Lordswood Boys' School Specialist Sports College in Hagley Road, Birmingham, as part of a British Council scheme. The schools have received grant funding for a teacher exchange and a representative of PSCC is visiting.
Seven pupils from the school have accompanied the teacher on the trip and they will take part in the Concept2 British Indoor Rowing Championship in Birmingham on November 12, before returning to their homeland the following day.
The youngsters, who will participate in individual and team categories, are Saad Mushtaq, Hassan Nawaz, Mohammed Jaffar, Awais Arif, Asad Mehboob, Mir Khan and Zohaib Ahmed.
Concept2's marketing director John Wilson commented: "The event is widely known for its diversity and inclusivity. It will be great to welcome these youngsters to the indoor rowing community. They will be joining more than 1,500 school-age children who will be taking part in the championship."
Neil Mackintosh, based at Lordswood, is a committee member of the Birmingham Schools Sailing Association and the founder of the Birmingham Schools Rowing Association. He commented: "We are delighted to welcome the youngsters into our lives and we felt that as the rowing event was happening in Birmingham during their stay, it would be a great cultural experience for them."
Also racing at the event will be Great Britain's world champion coxless four headed by Olympic champion Steve Williams and current British and World indoor rowing champion Graham Benton. Graham is the only indoor rower to hold both titles other than Olympic legend Sir Steve Redgrave.
A group of paraplegic athletes will also be racing at the event for the third successive year, on specially adapted Concept2 Indoor Rowers which utilise Functional Electronic Stimulation (FES) technology, to move their legs while the rower controls the upper-body.