Trekking for Action Medical Research: A New Challenge! By Maria Watt

I came back from an 11 month travelling trip in July 2009 that took me to Africa, Australasia, and South East Asia. During that time, all the creature comforts we take for granted such as clean running water were not guaranteed! In my time away I worked with HIV orphans in Tanzania and taught in a rural Fijian village school, the less seen side of these popular tourist destinations. Basic healthcare comes at a premium here, but I was privileged to be involved in clinics where vaccinations were freely available to these children. Medical research and development in the UK made that possible.

Since my return to sunny Yorkshire, I have learned about Action Medical Research (AMR), a leading UK children's charity, responsible for the development and rolling out of the polio vaccine. Their latest research includes improving a vaccine for type I diabetes, tackling epilepsy in children, studying multiple sclerosis in children, blindness and brittle bone disease.

AMR is 'determined to stop the suffering of babies and children caused by disease and disability'. So many of these children, I witnessed as outcasts of society on my travels; abused, abandoned or exploited. When I researched AMR further, I discovered with excitement that I could support the charity and give something back by taking on another challenge abroad Ð The Everest Expedition. This involves a 13 day trek through the foothills of the Himalayas to the summit of Kala Pattar (5.545 metres), with views of Mount Everest. I swiftly booked myself onto the next trek, starting on 22nd November 2011.

Joining me on this new adventure is my Dad. Coming from a background of international management in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry and having worked in South Africa, Kenya, the Middle East and Eastern Block countries of Europe, he too has witnessed poverty and sub-standard healthcare first hand. Signing up for the trek means that we are both committed to raising £3500 for AMR Ð a combined target of £7000 between us Ð arguably the biggest mountain we will have to climb!

Fundraising has already begun. So far we have held a successful Race Night at the Full Measure Pub in Driffield. James Kitching hosted the evening for us on 10th March, which raised just over £500, a great start! Our next event was a Pub Quiz held at The Trout Inn, Wansford. Keith Robinson kindly let us use this venue which saw another £200 in the kitty for Action Medical Research. The beautiful weather of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend was the perfect setting for the annual Pocklington Rugby Sevens on Good Friday. I attended equipped with a collection tin. At the end of the day, this rattled to a tune of £55.03.

Easter Sunday involved an early start for my Dad and me, as we set up a pitch at the Car Boot Sale located on the Driffield Tesco Car Park. Many thanks to all of those who purchased goods from our stall, and helped raise an additional £100! We have two big events coming up. The Spring Social event takes place on Saturday May 28th at Driffield Rugby Club. A fantastic family friendly lunch (3 courses) is available at a cost of £20 per head. This will be followed by an auction of donated items and services in aid of Action Medical Research. To donate items for the auction or to book your place at the lunch, please call 01262 481645.

Confirmed lots to date include a Day's Shooting (Mike Artley, Foston), a Professional Car Valet worth £200 (Hyundai Garage, Hull), a large canvas print of a personal photo (Pictures and Frames, Driffield), Aerobics classes (Sue Holmes, Driffield), a month's gym membership (Wolds Way Gym, Driffield), Back Massage (Reflections, Driffield) and a Painting from a Local Artist (Beth Boyes, Foston). Alec W G Hall (Driffield), Ruby's Bespoke Interiors (Driffield) and the Side Oven Bakery (Foston) will also be donating items to the Auction.

We offer many thanks to these kind contributions and would like to invite further local businesses/traders to donate products, services or treatments to the auction. July 16th sees an outside event Ð fingers crossed for good weather! We invite you to join us for a Foston Fun Day at Oak Tree Farm, Foston on the Wolds. Our gates will be open from 2pm. Entrance will be £5 for adults and £2 for children (up to 16, under 3's free).

The fun day will involve traditional sports for all ages, a bouncy castle, a welly throwing competition, a teddy tombola and a tug of war! Light refreshments and alcoholic beverages will be available from the fully licensed bar. Later in the day, a game of rounders is likely and there will also be an opportunity to throw Wet Sponges at me and my Dad... endurance training?!? So get practicing your egg and spoon balancing and sack race technique ready for the Fun Day! For further news of additional local fundraising events, please check the local papers. Your support matters and is gratefully appreciated. Also, if you have any ideas on other ways to raise awareness and funds for Action Medical Research, we would love to hear from you. Please speak to Maria, David or Kay Watt on 01262 481645. I hope to see you at one of our events soon!

Action Medical Research Website: www.action.org.uk

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