That's exactly what Louise Timmins (33) is planning as she heads thousands of miles across the world to monitor projects funded by Peterborough-based The Leprosy Mission (TLM).

Louise, an officer for the Orton Goldhay charity, volunteered some months ago to be its representative during the two-week trip to India before flying out of Heathrow to Delhi on Sunday.

Speaking just days before her trip, she said: "This is a vital trip to a country which has more cases of leprosy than anywhere else in the world."

Louise, who has worked with TLM for four years, said her main role was to establish if funds provided by the charity are being spent effectively.

Louise has flown to the country's capital, from where she will travel to the eastern state of Chhattisgarh and then south to the town of Vizianagaram, before returning to Delhi and her flight home.

In each place Louise will visit self-help projects which are intended to provide education and training programmes for sufferers and homes for orphans and children affected by leprosy and HIV.

One of the things she wil be looking at is how communities are raising awareness of the condition, and whether the mission's funds are being effectively used to raise people out of poverty by helping them start their own small businesses, for example.

Louise, who lives near Bourne with husband Paul, will also be meeting leprosy colony residents to discuss their needs for the future. It's the latest in a long line of trips that Louise has completed.

She said: "I've been to Nigeria and Ethiopia before for the same type of project. I help raise the money and then I have to go out to make sure it's being spent properly and what impact it's had on future projects.

"It's already been spent so it's a trip to see how and where it's gone and then also to see what projects we can start and raise money for it.

"I'm very excited to see a new orphanage, which we paid for last year so I'm looking forward to that. The trips are very rewarding and they make going to work very interesting."

The Leprosy Mission is a leading international non-denominational Christian organisation, with more than 130 years experience in leprosy work. For more information, call 01733 370505 or visit www.leprosymission.org.uk.