A team of students and alumni have completed a three day, 78-mile walk from the Cameroonian Embassy in Kensington, London, to the University of Southampton to raise over £3000 for the international development charity Cameroon Catalyst.
Cameroon Catalyst was founded in 2009 by Civil Engineering students in order to provide improved infrastructure and facilities to rural villages in Eastern Cameroon – past projects have included a medical centre, classrooms and a solar-powered electricity hub. The charity is currently fundraising to improve local sanitation and access to clean water, as 50% of rural Cameroonians do not have access to safe drinking water.
The ultra-marathon event was intended to reflect the difficulties involved in collecting water from a distant, and often unhealthy, source multiple times each day. The arduous journey saw the team travel the distance of three marathons over three days, passing through Guildford and Winchester from the 16-18 October.
One of the team members, Anthony Morris, a recent graduate in Civil and Environmental Engineering, said,
“The walk was very challenging, but it is fantastic to see the amount we have raised for the charity – I’m very proud to have been involved.”
The charity plan to make the ultra-marathon walk an annual event. If you would like to get involved in a future walk, or support their work in Cameroon, more information can be found on their website or Justgiving page. Society President Mikey Harper can be contacted at [email protected].