Issue 155

Students hitchhike to Morocco for charity

08th May 2007

During the Easter break, several groups of Swansea University students completed a hitchhike that started outside Fulton house and took them to Morocco.

They undertook this endever to raise funds for the Link Community Development (LCD), which helps raise money for various different educational programs in Africa.

The money raised by the event will enable the children from Ghana, Malawi, South Africa and Uganda to have a much brighter future.

The LCD works to improve education by running projects for schools and teachers in partnership with local government departments and other nongovernment organisations.

The Hitch is LCD's largest fundraiser and raises up to £300, 000 each year with over 3,100 hitchers successfully completing the hike since it began in 1992.

The event has now grown into one of the UK's biggest student fundraising events. Three second year students at Swansea University, James Houston, Robert Nash and Daniel Entwistle, successfully completed the hitch to Morocco, despite being an 'all male' group.

Although the journey took 11 days to complete, the three students met a variety of people along the way. One of the boys commented that "We were fleeced for rugs and spent long periods of time at petrol stations.

"We even made friends with a Lithuanian lorry driver who provided us with the food and beer that we so desperately needed!"

James Houston said that they, "saw a side of Spain you wouldn't necessary see, because we saw the agricultural side." Robert Nash said it was a "fantastic experience" and that "you could do that hitch a hundred times and each would be unique."

The hitch provided different adventures for every group, and although not all made it, it appears that this is something they have not regretted taking part in and it certainly provides a few funny antics, although ultimate relief at eventually arriving!

Although the group said it took a long time, they met some really friendly people, and although their days were long and tiring, it was a fantastic experience.'

Eleni Cashell