27 June 2006
Wealden Chairman to walk the Great Wall
Following on from her successful trek to the ancient Inca stronghold of Machu Picchu, Wealden District Council’s foot-slogging, fund-raising chairman Cllr Mrs Pat Kennedy is embarking on another mission in support of the Sussex Air Ambulance appeal. This time she will be taking on the Great Wall of China in a 65 kilometre walk along this historic fortification of China’s Middle Kingdom.
“The Inca Trail involved walking at high altitudes. Now I’ve got climbing up and climbing down to contend with,” said Councillor Mrs Kennedy. “The Great Wall involves ascending and descending thousands of steps that have been built into the wall. It will take a great deal of physical toughness.”
Last year, Councillor Kennedy raised £6,500 for the Sussex Air Ambulance Appeal through tackling the Inca Trail which leads to the lost city of Machu Picchu over 4000 metres up in the Andes. With the Sussex Air Ambulance Appeal just half way towards the £250,000 target necessary to order dedicated air ambulance for the county, Councillor Kennedy is hoping to raise even more money this year.
“It is good that the Kent air ambulance is now able to fly missions into Sussex, but with increasing congestion on the roads, it is very important that we have our own dedicated air ambulance so that casualties can be taken to hospital within the ‘Golden Hour’ for recovery,” she said.
As part of an exhaustive training routine over the next four months, Councillor Mrs Kennedy will undergo 16 hours of Pilates classes, swim 24 miles and climb the equivalent of 1440 flights of stairs using the formidable step machine in the Freedom Leisure Gym at Crowborough.
To kick off her fund raising campaign, Councillor Kennedy is holding a Do What You Like Day on Friday July 21. She is inviting everyone to take part in their favourite recreational pursuit , and not to worry about having to attend another fund raising event…providing they send her a donation to the Sussex Air Ambulance Appeal!
“Anyone who has been ill or injured in an accident will appreciate the importance of getting to hospital quickly. So please help make sure that the 1.25 million people of Sussex have their own Air Ambulance as soon as possible.”
