Sisters in charity ambulance drive
15 Jun 10
Two Portsmouth sisters are set to spend the next two weeks driving an ambulance across the UK in a bid to raise money for a charity project in Africa.
Caroline Johnston and Andrea Ward will cover 1,400 miles in the vehicle, attending fundraising events in places including Exeter, Cheltenham, Manchester, Liverpool, York, Sheffield, London and Guildford.
They hope to raise £40,000 for the Village Africa Ambulance Appeal in Yamba, Tanzania.
Village Africa was set up by Caroline, 46, four years ago to help improve healthcare and education access in remote villages in the area.
The money raised from the trip will be used to buy an ambulance to take sick and injured villagers to hospital in Tanga.
Caroline said: "It is a two day walk to hospital. Patients include many babies and children. An ambulance will save many lives."
Fundraising events such as African music performances, a tug-or-war, tea and cake sales, and dressing-up days will be organised by the pair's friends and members of the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy, the organisation that Andrea works for.
Andrea, 41, added: "It's hugely important for us to raise the money as quickly as possible, because a new ambulance will save so many lives including babies, pregnant women, and older people."
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