Jill takes a walk on the wild side

DROMORE woman Jill Bruce set off for the adventure of a lifetime last week when she joined a 17-strong group ready to trek along the Tanzanian Great Rift Valley in Africa.

And, as well as satisfying a personal challenge, Jill also had a higher mission in mind, with the 10-day trek aiming to raise thousands of pounds for local cancer charity, Action Cancer.

The local woman has spent the last few months raising £3,500 and training for the gruelling challenge, which is her second trek for Action Cancer - she participated in a trek in Namibia in 2005.

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Taking place in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area of Tanzania, the local Massai tribe will lead the group while sharing their local knowledge of the area.

Jill and her fellow trekkers will take on extreme temperatures of over 30 degrees and walk for up to eight hours every day, covering more than 60km over the duration of the trip.

During the day she will walk between craters and scale nearly 3,000 meters to the summit of a live volcano, while at night the group will set up camp in local villages.

Events and PR officer, Leigh Chamberlain, said, “Action Cancer have been running overseas treks for a number of years now and over £2 million pounds had been raised by dedicated volunteers such as Jill.

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“I would like to congratulate her on reaching the fundraising target of £3,500, which in the current climate is not easy to do, and I would also like to thank everyone who supported her.

“As all the money raised by Action Cancer remains in Northern Ireland, Jill’s supporters can take credit in the fact the money raised will be used to provide services in their own local community.”

Money raised from the trek will help Action Cancer provide life-saving services such as breast screening for women aged 40-49 and also for women aged 70 and over, as well as providing ‘MOT’ health checks for men.

Funds will also go towards health promotion for workplaces, community groups and schools, counselling and complementary therapy for people living with cancer, as well as their families.

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All services are available from the Action Cancer clinic in Belfast or regionally on the charity’s ‘Big Bus’. There are currently spaces available on treks taking place in 2012, including a ‘Survivors and Supporters’ trek on the Great Wall of China next March, a trek in Camino de Santiago next June and a local Ballygowan Pink Moonlight Walk this month - 17th June.

Anyone who would like further information should call 028 9080 3369 or e-mail [email protected]