http://www.myactionaid.org.uk/activities/new-route-peru-trek-2008 Well done to everyone who took part in this year's ActionAid Peru trek to Machu Picchu! en-us 2010/09/10 07:04:12.826 GMT+1 2010/09/10 07:04:12.826 GMT+1 http://www.myactionaid.org.uk/activities/new-route-peru-trek-2008 MyActionAid myactionaid@actionaid.org myactionaid@actionaid.org http://www.myactionaid.org.uk/annfox As most of you know, I've been teaching most of my life, when I wasn't a full-time mother of four (now grown-up) children. After 17 years at St Alban's Catholic High School I've decided to give up in favour of other worth-while activities. The first of these is a challenge to trek along the footpaths of the Salkantay trail to Machu Picchu in the Andes in Peru. This is to kick-start the next stage of my life; along with continued involvement with Church, singing, choirs, and keeping fit. http://www.myactionaid.org.uk/susancraig I'm a computer analyst/programmer and have worked in various industries over the years. I've just clocked up 9 years with the North East Chamber of Commerce in Durham where I look after the CRM and Training systems, write reports, produce statistics and generally try and keep things running smoothly. I've been an Action Aid supporter since 1982 where after sponsoring a child and being a community sponsor, I'm now involved with the Next Step programme in Nepal. Next year is significant for me as I'm about to hit the big five-o and I've decided it's about time I had an adventure. So I've bought the walking boots and the waterproofs and I'm in training to walk in the Andes and visit the magical mountain ruins at Machu Picchu. It's somewhere I've dreamed of visiting since I first saw a photograph of it when I was 10. I'm also looking forward to visiting an Action Aid project for the first time to see what sort of things the charity does and how they affect the people involved. I am funding the cost of the trip myself so every penny donated will be going to Action Aid to support their work with some of the poorest people on the planet. I feel so privileged that I live in a safe and secure environment. I can't imagine what it's like not to be able to turn on a tap and get drinking water, or flick a switch and get light, or drive in my own car to work. As a woman, I can be educated, manage my own finances, live and work as I please. So many others can't. So please help me to make a difference. http://www.myactionaid.org.uk/tanzania05 After taking part in the Tanzania Rift Valley Trek in 2005 to mark my 60th year, I began work as a Visiting Teacher with Actionaid, giving illustrated talks in primary schools on a range of topics linked with Key Stage 2 Curriculum. I also retired from full time work. I have been invited to act as Actionaid's unofficial rep., along with other previous trekkers, on the Machu Picchu trek at the end of April. http://www.myactionaid.org.uk/BurnsieandRachel Me and the wife Rachel are doing our first Action Aid fundraiser with a small trek in Peru to Machu Picchu. We can't wait, and are busy planning fundraisers to support the sponsorship element of the trip. Top Banana our band and Elvis are both helping with events so music is doing a lot to help but any other donations really welcome! http://www.myactionaid.org.uk/JamesB Hi, I am James and I run a Gas & Electrical Safety Inspection Company serving the London area. We specialise in Periodic Inspection & Test Reports, Electrical Short Fixed Wire Reports, Enhanced Electrical Reports including PAT Testing, Boiler Services, Landlord Gas Safety Certificates and much much more. I am at present studying for the Domestic Energy Assesor diploma in conjunction with the University of the West of England. I have been a supporter of the ActionAid charity since 2006 and decided now was the time to be more pro active and registered for the Peru Trek 2008. Here's wishing me luck!! James http://www.myactionaid.org.uk/kat_collis Hello! You may remember that 18 months ago I did a sponsored trek through the Great Rift Valley of Tanzania to raise money for ActionAid. In the end I managed to raise over £3000, and as a group we raised over £100,000. At the beginning of May I am travelling to Cusco in Peru to trek the Salkantay Trail to the world-famous Machu Picchu Inca site. The trek involves 5 days of intensive trekking (8-10 hours a day!) at altitude (we reach 4600m!) and will be a very different challenge to the Maasai trek I did last year. I am going to Peru as an unofficial ActionAid rep, offering support to the other trekkers, but I still want to raise as much money....! About me...I'm a research scientist, and live on the Essex-Hertfordshire border. I've just bought my first flat so should really be spending my money on decorating it but the opportunity to go to Peru was just too good to turn down.... who needs a sofa anyway?!?! http://www.myactionaid.org.uk/sallywhy Hello, I'm Sally and I'm going to do the Peru Trek in 2008. I live in Tenerife and already do lots of mountain walking, but am trying to start training to increase my fitness level and stamina. My first fundraising event took place 26th-30th November, when 9 people, including me, from the walking group in Los Cristianos walked from the coast to the top of Mt Teide (3715m). We did it as a sponsored walk for Action Aid. The trek took 4.5 days and involved walking 44 miles and climbing 4322m (yes I know that's higher than Teide, but we had to do some downhill as well, because there's a caldera around the base of Teide!) We raised more than 2200 Euros (£1637 roughly at present exchange rate). Please see our photos in the album. We then had a social evening with an auction of paintings donated by a local art group, and a showing of the Teide trek photos, and raised a further 407 Euros. I had another fundraising event on 29th Feb, which ended up as 2 events, on 28th and 29th Feb, at Happy Days in Costa del Silencio. We had a dinner with live entertainment and raffles and a bookstall. These events have now taken me over my target, so now I must concentrate on the fitness!