THE former public face of the AA is preparing to travel thousands of miles in a bid to help survivors of one of the world's worst natural disasters.

Ex-AA media relations officer Rebecca Rees, who was regularly featured on television, will be leaving behind all her home comforts to help tsunami victims in the most devastated parts of Sri Lanka.

The 34-year-old decided to take part in the two-week volunteering work scheme next month after being made redundant from the Basingstoke based organisation shortly before the fatal waves struck.

Rebecca said: "I always planned to do a bit of travelling and something useful with my time. When the tsunami happened it seemed like the perfect opportunity to help and I really wanted to go for it.

"I've always wanted to go to Sri Lanka. Obviously I would have liked to be going under happier circumstances but I want to go and do my bit to help. I'm in a fortunate position now because I don't have any commitments here to stop me from going off and doing this."

Rebecca, who now lives in Newbury, will be donating about £1,000 to help clean up beaches, work in refuge centres and pack food boxes in Mount Lavina, near the island's capital, Colombo.

Rebecca said: "Whenever I've been on holiday in the past it's always been quite luxurious but this time it's not going to be like that. I think it'll do me the world of good."

Before setting off, Rebecca will have to be inoculated against diseases such as tetanus, typhoid, cholera, diphtheria, polio, hepatitis A and possibly yellow fever, but that has not made her think twice about going.

She added: "I'm going to be getting all the medical advice I need before I go. I'm relatively fit and healthy and there's going to be a good support network out there for me when I arrive.

"Although I'm apprehensive about going, I'm really looking forward to it.

"I want to go out there and hopefully make a difference. I think it will be an eye-opener and a real challenge for me."