Best birthday by miles, from John o’Groats to Land’s End for Mercy Corps

Best birthday by miles

To
celebrate a 60th birthday most people might have a party to
celebrate and relax with friends. But one energetic couple from Edinburgh have decided that turning 60 is a good
opportunity to go for a walk – from John o’Groats to Land’s End!

David
and Pru Jeffrey will both have turned 60 when they set off on their mammoth
journey on Sunday 11 May and they are hoping to reach Land’s
End in 75 days. They are undertaking the impressive challenge to
raise money for Edinburgh
based international development charity, Mercy Corps, after hearing an appeal
for the charity on BBC Radio 4.

David, a
palliative care consultant in the Borders said, “We were not aware of the
wonderful work carried out by Mercy Corps and when we heard the appeal and
discovered it was on our doorstep here in Edinburgh
we decided to leap into action. We are keen walkers and thought this would be a
fitting way to mark our 60th birthdays at the same time.”

The couple
are hoping to raise £5,000 for the charity which will help fund Mercy
Corps’ projects in India.
Pru Jeffrey said, “We have always has a real interest in India, so to
know that every footstep we take and every pound we raise will be helping to
improve the lives of people there will spur us on our way, and ensure that we
reach that finishing line.”

Director
of Fundraising for Mercy Corps, Alison Cameron,
said, “We are delighted that David and Pru have chosen Mercy Corps as the
charity to benefit from their incredible challenge. They are a great example of
how people can get active for charity and make a real difference to the lives
of poor communities around the world.”

To
sponsor David and Pru visit www.justgiving.com/davidandprujeffrey

----ends----

Contact:

Anna Clarkson, Communications
Officer, Mercy Corps European Headquarters

tel: 0131 550 7533

[email protected]

Mercy Corps works amid disasters, conflicts,
chronic poverty and instability to unleash the potential of people who can win
against nearly impossible odds.  Since 1979, Mercy Corps has provided over
£650 million in assistance to people in 100 nations.  Supported by
headquarter offices in Europe, North America and Asia, the agency's unified
global programmes employ nearly 3,400 staff worldwide and reach more
than 14.4 million people in more than 35 countries.  Over the
last five years more than 90% of the agency's resources have been allocated
directly to programmes that help people in need. For more information, visit www.mercycorps.org.uk

Mercy Corps
is a proud recipient of the 2008 Fast Company/Monitor Group Social Capital
Award.

Mercy Corps works amid disasters,
conflicts, chronic poverty and instability to unleash the potential of people
who can win against nearly impossible odds.  Since 1979, Mercy Corps has
provided over £650 million in assistance to people in 100 nations. 
Supported by headquarter offices in Europe, North America and Asia, the
agency's unified global programmes employ 3,400 staff worldwide and
reach more 14.4 million people in more than 35 countries. 
Over the last five years more than 90% of the agency's resources have been used
for programmes that help people in need.  For more information, visit
www.mercycorps.org.uk

Mercy Corps European headquarters are at: 17 Claremont Crescent, Edinburgh, EH7 4HX, UK

Mercy Corps Scotland is a Registered Company No 208829 | Registered Charity
No SC030289