|PIC1|More than 600,000 teens have participated in the World Vision 15th Annual 30-hour famine project, hoping to raise more than US$8 million in sponsor pledges.

Funds from the 30-hour famine contribute to World Vision's response in areas where famine, conflict, and other crises make children vulnerable to hunger and preventable disease.

Adam James, 15, said he saw a video on world hunger and decided to get involved. He said he "forgot about eating" and was feeling fine, although he had gotten only four hours of sleep Friday night. He helped to sweep street pavements on Saturday afternoon.

Friends Lindsay Conrad, 16, and Monique Coker, 17, said they were feeling fine about 24 hours into the fast as they waited to be taken to their work assignment at New Hope Shelter.

|AD|"We're raising money for kids who don't have what we have," Monique said. "Lots of people are praying for us. The work projects make the time go faster."

Both had participated in the 30-hour fast a few years ago, they said.

Lindsay raised £70 and Monique raised £300 for world hunger relief. Just £15 is needed to feed a Third World child for a month.

After completing the assignments, the group joined other teens for a worship service and to conclude their fast at 6 p.m. with rice and beans, a typical meal in Third World countries.

Founded in 1950, World Vision is a Christian relief and development organisation dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. World Vision maintains health, education, agriculture, water, sanitation and small business projects that help millions of people in nearly 100 countries.