World's biggest hitch to Africa

Press Release - Wednesday 8th March 2006

Hundreds of people are about to take part in the world's largest organised hitch-hiking event. They will be hitching from the UK to Morocco or Prague. This is the 15th anniversary of the sponsored fundraising event, organised by international development charity Link Community Development (LCD), which raises vital funds for its work to improve the quality of education in Africa.

Carinne Maisel, Suraj Kamdar and Steven Adamson are the first hitchers leaving from Carinne's house in Golders Green, London on Friday 10th March at 10am, on the start of their journey to Morocco.

Carinne said: "As a student I really appreciate the value of education and understand how important LCD's work is in improving education in Africa. I'm really looking forward to this - it's not something you get to do everyday. LCD works really hard to reduce the risks involved with the event, making me feel I'm doing something adventurous but safe."

Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Hitch Patron said: "It is an exciting challenge and a test of endurance, and all for an incredibly worthwhile cause."

The biggest group, with over 100 hitchers, will be leaving from Nottingham and Leeds University on Saturday 25th March.

The hitch can take from two days to three weeks to complete and last year over 450 hitchers raised more than £180,000 for LCD. This year over 900 people have registered, making it LCD's biggest ever hitch.

All hitchers have to participate in a health and safety session and travel in a minimum of a pair, one of whom has to be male. Hitchers must take the necessary insurance and be in daily contact with LCD. Because of the importance LCD places on the hitchers' safety, there haven't been any major incidents on the hitch in its 14 years.

Hitchers come back with fabulous stories - last year some hitchers were picked up by Argentinian footballer Juan Roman Riquelme in a Porsche in Spain. One hitcher changed their name by deed-poll to raise even more money for LCD.

Kate Brackenborough, LCD Events Officer, said: "This year is going to be the best ever hitch. It's extra special because it's the 15th anniversary and thanks to the work of dedicated individuals we're able to make a real difference to the improvement of education in Africa."

"What's also great about the hitch is that it's primarily a student-led event, showing young people's concerns for education in some of the poorest places in the world."

To find out more about the hitch, to participate or donate please go to www.lcd.org.uk, email hitch@lcd.org.uk or phone 020-7691-1818.

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. For more information about The Hitch Morocco/Prague 2006 please contact Ben Miller, Link Community Development, Programme Officer on 020-7691-1821 or email ben@lcd.org.uk.

2. Link Community Development runs education programmes in South Africa, Ghana, Uganda and Malawi, with the aim of improving the life-chances of children in some of the poorest areas. Archbishop Tutu is patron of Link Community Development.