ACTION HOMELESS - Aspire Magazine

Comic Relief 2011
The BT Red Nose Desert Trek
They’ve done it!
Celebrity team complete 100 kilometre trek
All nine of Comic Relief’s celebrity
trekkers have crossed the finish
line of The BT Red Nose Desert Trek
and have completed the gruelling
100 kilometre trek across the
Kaisut Desert, northern Kenya.
The team walked an agonising
20 kilometres in the scorching
heat today and crossed the
finish line together. There were
emotional scenes as the trekkers
embraced each other in jubilation,
surrounded by a group of children
singing and clapping.
As they started the fifth day’s walk this morning, many
of the group were on their last legs. Dermot O’Leary was
struggling with incredibly painful blisters and Olly Murs
was suffering from a debilitating stomach bug.
Dermot said: “I’ve enjoyed every second of this trek. My
feet are ruined but that doesn’t matter because I’ve met
some amazing people both in the team and those that
live in this harsh but beautiful place. Judging by the
fantastic response we’ve had, people seem to have been
following this trek.”
In an incredible display of pure grit and determination,
the nine celebrities have defied all odds to reach the 100
kilometre mark on the final day of the trek. Along the
way they’ve overcome blisters, sores, sunburn, chafing
and stomach illness through their sheer resolve to raise
as much money as possible for Comic Relief. They’ve
had to avoid rock slides, snakes, spiders, scorpions and
endure temperatures as high as 118 degrees Fahrenheit
along the way.
Kara Tointon said: “I feel elated to have crossed the finish
line! I’m so tired but unbelievably happy we finished as
a team. Thank you to all those people who donated, it
really did keep us going during the tough times.”
The celebrity team’s incredible efforts will raise money
to help people living unimaginably tough lives both
across Africa and the UK, and in particular they are
highlighting the issue of sight. Money they raise will go
to Comic Relief projects which include those that help to
prevent thousands of people in Africa from going blind
or contracting debilitating eye conditions like trachoma,
something which affects many people living in the
region where the trek is taking place.
At the finish line the group were reunited with people
they had met along the trek who were able to visit the
local sight camp. There they have been able to receive
treatment for the conditions that are causing them to
lose their sight. Some of the team witnessed operations
on people suffering from trachoma. Just £5 could pay
for a sight-saving operation for someone in Africa who’s
suffering from trachoma.
Every minute, a child goes blind somewhere in the
world and the effect is truly devastating. Tragically, up to
fifty per cent of all children who lose their sight will die
within two years. What makes these figures even more
astonishing is that eighty per cent of all blindness is
preventable.
Scott Mills: “This is something that I never thought I’d
be able to achieve. To be able to do this and help raise
money for Comic Relief has been a real privilege. I’ve met
some amazing people, seen a beautiful part of the world
and made some great friends. But now I need new feet!”
Lorraine Kelly said: “I’ve done four marathons in my time
but this was harder than all of them by a million miles.
My feet are like a pound of raw mince. I’d love to come
back here but I won’t be walking.”
Olly Murs: “It was overwhelming to reach the finish line
and to see all the people we’ve helped on the way. It’s
unbelievable for me to be part of Comic Relief and be a
member of this fantastic team. Thank you to everyone
who’s donated so far. I’ve seen for myself how that
money will make a real difference.”
All the ups and downs of their journey have been captured for a documentary, which was shown on
BBC1 on Thursday March 17th at 9pm. If you missed it, log onto www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer to catch-up.
To donate to Comic Relief 2011, please visit www.comicrelief.com/donate
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