Safari run for charity supporters
Tracey Whittington
TWO keen runners are to take on a gruelling half-marathon through Africa’s most famous game park, to raise funds for a charity close to their hearts.
Tracey Whittington, 48, of Rye Road, and Tim Jury, 58, a farmer from Pett, will on November 19, be running 21km through the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya, in support of the charity FARM-Africa.
The pair, who are both long-standing supporters of the charity, which provides training and support to rural communities to help lift them out of poverty, have been fundraising, and gathering sponsorship since February.
Tracey, mother of three and grandmother of two, said: “FARM-Africa is my passion. It is one of those charities where you can actually see where the money is going.”
A member of Hastings Runners, but also a horse-rider, Tracey was first introduced to FARM-Africa through Tim, when she got involved in the annual Ride for Africa, which he organises to raise money for the charity.
In 2009 they braved the heat and altitude to take part in fundraising run in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
The altitude will again be one of the main challenges, as they tackle the Masai Mara half-marathon, at a massive 2,400 metres above sea level.
“Following our experience in Ethiopia, I am really excited to get another opportunity to see the marvellous work that FARM-Africa does.
“The icing on the cake will be the chance to run in the Masai Mara.”
The group travelling out to Kenya, also includes Tracey’s partner Ian Lovell, Tim’s partner Anne Lander, and three others. Together they hope to raise in the region of £10,000 for the charity.
Tracey works for Barclays Bank, who have pledged to add £750 to her eventual fundraising total.
The group have already set off, and will have a week of acclimatisation before the race itself, during which time they will be visiting some of the projects run by FARM-Africa in Kenya.
These include the Aqua Shops Project, which is working to enable people to set up their own fish farming businesses, and the Western Kenya Cassava Project, which is helping farmers to grow larger harvests of the staple crop cassava.
To sponsor Tracey visit www.justgiving.com/TraceyWhittington, and to sponsor Tim visit www.justgiving.com/user/1722424.
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Monday 28 May 2012
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