A HARLOW woman is preparing to walk the Great Wall of China in September to raise money for St Clare Hospice.
And Jackie Kennedy (39), of Orchard Croft, also hopes the week-long trek will help her to shed a few pounds.
“I’ve had a problem with my weight and I’m hoping to get to my target weight,” said Jackie. “Last year I took part in London to Brighton bike rides but this year I wanted to take on the biggest challenge I possibly could.
“I’m just glad that the hospice came along with this so that the money will be going towards a good, local charity. I am excited about trekking along the Great Wall of China knowing that every step will raise money for St Clare.”
Jackie is one of 20 people already signed up to the trek, which will take place from Friday, September 17 to Saturday, September 25. The hospice is hoping that number will rise to 30.
The tour has been described by organiser Sally Bromham as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the real China. “The Great Wall attracts over a million visitors each year,” she said. "However, the vast majority of tourists visit just a small section near Beijing.
“The St Clare Hospice group will follow a route well beyond the regular tourist trail. They will trek along some of the most spectacular sections of the wall and through remote villages seldom visited by foreigners.”
The hospice provides free care to hundreds of local people but less than a third of its £2.5million annual running cost is funded by the NHS. The remaining amount has to be raised through donations.
For more information on how to sign up for the trek, call Sally on (01303) 862996. Anyone who would like to sponsor Jackie can visit her fundraising webpage at www.justgiving.com/jackie-kennedy.