A father and son team from Horsford will be heading to Africa today as part of a trip aimed at helping people in Norfolk and Morocco.

Scott Laddiman and his nine-year-old son Markus will be spending two weeks driving through the country giving out supplies to children along the route.

Their trip has also been sponsored by friends, family and supporters for the Norfolk Zipper Club – a charity that supports people undergoing heart operations and raises money for Papworth Hospital, in Cambridge.

The reason behind their trip is that Scott's father Keith, 70, had a life-saving heart operation at the hospital eight years ago.

Scott, 38, said: 'He went in for a routine check-up as he felt lethargic, and discovered that his main aorta was very weak and had expanded to double the size of what it should be.'

He underwent an operation at Papworth that saw his aorta replaced and reinforced, with one of his valves replaced with a cow's valve.

Scott said: 'If he had not had the operation he would not be here today.'

Throughout this time, the Norfolk Zipper Club supported Keith and his family and as a thank you, Keith did a wing walk to raise money for them.

Now his son Scott and grandson Markus, who goes to Angel Road School, near Waterloo Park, in Norwich, are hoping to raise more money for the charity.

This afternoon the pair will be leaving for Morocco in their Land Rover, spending two weeks in the country along with nine other groups in 4x4s. Scott, who works for an oil and gas company in India, said: 'I went last year with a friend of mine to see what it is like. It made a massive impression and I thought it was important to take my son somewhere like that.'

The two have loaded up their Land Rover with pens, pencils, paper, clothes and toys that they will hand out during the trip.

Scott said: 'It is simple stuff but those kids love it as they don't have anything at all.'

Asked what Markus thinks about the trip, Scott added: 'He is a bit unsure, but excited. I am looking forward to watching his reaction when we go to the remote areas, sometimes spending three to four days driving in the wilderness.'

The trip has been nine months in planning and to help raise more money for the club, Scott convinced them to register on the Virgin Money Giving website.

As a result, they have raised over �1,100 with money donated from around the world including Nigeria, Angola, India, USA and Turkey.

To donate visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/moroccoadventure2011 and for more on the charity visit www.norfolkzipperclub.org.uk

Are you going on an adventure for charity? Contact Richard Wood on 01603 772423 or email richard.wood@archant.co.uk