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Karen Churches, a 36-year-old London woman, will begin an epic journey today, walking 4,000 kilometres along the Great Wall to raise funds for China's poor and Britain's breast cancer patients.
Churches said the walk would start in northwestern Yumenguan Pass in the Gobi Desert and finish 212 days later at Shanhaiguan Pass on the east coast where the Great Wall meets the Yellow Sea.
Her journey will be divided into 22 different sections of 10 to 15 days each, so that women from all walks of life can also join her on this extraordinary adventure.
To date, over 210 women around the world have registered to participate in the Women's Great Walk of China, according to the organizer, Britain-based Challenges Limited.
Churches said she had wanted to walk the Great Wall for many years.
Churches has travelled widely in Africa, Asia, Europe, Central and South America. In 1997, she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and, to celebrate the millennium, she trekked to Mount Qomolangma.
Several high-profile female celebrities will join her on her journey, including British actress Josie Lawrence who will accompany Churches at the beginning of her journey for two and a half months and at the end of the journey for two months.
According to the organizer, the Women's Great Walk of China has teamed up with Plan International and Roots & Shoots (The Jane Goodall Institute) to ensure that the expeditions benefit local communities in China as well as Breakthrough Breast Cancer in Britain.
For every woman who takes part in one of the 22 expeditions, the organizer will donate US$50 to Plan International and Roots & Shoots.
(China Daily April 23, 2003)
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