THREE hospice workers taking part in a charity trek across Peru are appealing for more volunteers to join them.
Fundraising and events officer Sharon Owen, core services officer Nicola Wilson, 25, and clinical nurse specialist Terri Gazi, 51, of George Thomas Hospice Care, will begin their gruelling journey to Machu Picchu on May 22. Their first taste of the Inca world will be in the city of Cusco, the ancient civilisation’s capital. After acclimatising to the high altitude by visiting Inca ruins and Spanish colonial churches, the group will head towards the remote and rarely visited Lares Valley. The trip, organised through Charity Challenge, is an alternative to the extremely busy Inca Trail. But walkers will still have time to explore the ruins at Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas”. During the expedition, the group will walk for six hours per day for five days, trekking through the untouched Lares region, over high mountain passes, green valleys, past mountain lakes and breathtaking views of snow-capped Andean mountains. Sharon, who previously took part in a Great Wall of China trek, encouraged volunteers to join the trio from Cardiff in their adventure, which will raise money for the South Wales hospice as part of its annual Care for a Walk campaign. “It’s a wonderful experience,” said the 43-year-old.
“Having done the Great Wall of China trek a few years ago, it was always my intention to do another one and I have persuaded two of the clinical team at George Thomas to come with me and they are really looking forward to it.