As part of her work with the Leeds University RAG (Raise and Give) charity, in June this year 2010 leaver Joanna Walker will attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro – the ‘roof of Africa' – as part of a group fundraising trek in aid of the charity Childreach International. The charity is a grass roots organisation that works in partnership with local communities in the developing world to help improve children's access to healthcare, education, child rights and protection, which has worked with over 70,000 children in the past year alone.

Whilst in Africa, Joanna, who is studying English Language and Literature at Leeds, will visit a school in Tanzania that will benefit from the money raised. It is one of the many schools in the area that educates impoverished children, helping to endow them with skills that will go some way to improving their prospects in life.

Joanna told us: "As a result of the major economic deficiency in the areas the charity supports, our fundraising targets are pretty high. I am aiming to raise £3,000 in aid of this extremely worthwhile charity, and any help would be very greatly appreciated!" So far, Joanna has raised over £1,400 towards her target through sponsorship from friends and family.

If you would like to support Joanna in her fundraising activities, please visit her online donation page here. We wish Joanna and the rest of the Leeds RAG group the very best on their trek, and look forward to hearing further news of their progress later this year. 

Published: 4th April 2012