The best friend of a schoolboy who shot himself with his father’s gun has helped raise an incredible £33,000, for projects in his memory.

Zak Warwood, from Cliffe set up Team Charlie after the death of his former schoolmate Charlie Booth.

Zak and his friends have already raised the substantial sum for the Prince’s Trust by completing the London to Brighton cycle ride.

They have now embarked on Project India in which they are aiming to build a sports and social hall and renovate two hostels for orphans living in the south of the continent.

On the current site there is a school, church and hospital used by 430 children who will all benefit from the new facilities.

Zak, a King’s School, Rochester pupil has been nominated for a Pride in Medway award by his former teacher Wendy Black who works at Gad’s Hill School in Higham.

Mrs Black, who lives in Strood, said: “Zak has worked tirelessly in the last year in memory of his friend and will continue to do so.

Zak, of Cooling Street, said they wanted to show their appreciation of Charlie’s life by making difference to people the other side of the world.

He said: “Over time, we have ideas of creating pitches, cricket nets, turfs and other facilities too.

“Charlie Booth will always be remembered and Team Charlie is going to make this happen. The project is purely running on donations and fundraising. Even though he has passed, Charlie Booth is still changing lives all over the globe.”

Their first fundraiser was a London to Brighton cycle ride in which they collected £10,000 followed by a Team Charlie launch party when £23,000 was pledged.

Plans have been drawn up for the Charlie Booth Sports Centre in southern India. Team Charlie are now fundraising in earnest to get to their £50,000 target to start construction.

Zak said: “Charlie was addicted to sport, rugby, hockey and football. He would love the idea of providing sports facilities where children can be taught PE.”

Public schoolboy Charlie Booth, 16, was found dead at his home in Watling Street, Cobham, in March last year. In the days before his death, the Gad’s Hill pupil tweeted about his volatile moods and said he got caught up in arguments.

Charlie was a keen member of Gad’s Hill Combined Cadet Force and represented his school at cross-country, rugby and hockey. He had been preparing to sit his GCSE exams.

• You can nominate an unsung hero for the latest Pride in Medway awards by filling in the form in your Friday Medway Messenger and returning it to the address shown.