by Chris Hole, Evening Gazette
AN ADVENTUROUS student is thumbing a ride to Africa for charity.
Alex Dent will be travelling 1,200 miles from Portsmouth to Morocco.
The lengthy journey will include two ferry crossings – but the 19-year-old will be hitchhiking her way across France and Spain.
And as her big adventure approaches, Alex admits to feeling a tad apprehensive.
“I’m really excited about it but I’m quite nervous too,” said Alex, from Linthorpe, Middlesbrough.
“It’s a long way but we have two weeks to do it and hopefully we will get there in time so we can spend some time in Morocco.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Alex will be taking a ferry from Portsmouth to Caen, in France, on April 5.
She will then hitchhike her way through France and Spain to Malaga, before taking a ferry to Morocco.
Alex is one of many students taking on the daunting challenge and will be travelling with friends.
But the plucky student is well-prepared and has been taught how to keep safe – and has learned a bit of the local lingo too.
“There’s a lot of safety issues we have learned about and we have had to attend a health and safety meeting,” Alex explained.
“We won’t be hitchhiking in Morocco either. We have been taught some expressions to use too. My French and Spanish isn’t great. I can say ‘two beers please’ in Spanish but that’s it!”
Alex, an animal science student at the University of Nottingham, is taking on the challenge to help raise money for Link Community Development.
The organisation supports education systems in several African countries, in the hope of providing quality education for all.
“It’s a fantastic charity,” said Alex.
“Everyone has a target of £375 to reach but I want to raise £500. I have never done anything like this but am looking forward to it.”
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Score: 27
Captain_Cookie
11:43 AM on 20/3/2012
Alex your heart is in the right place , but don’t hate me for saying this as I’m sure many in the past have already voiced this obvious concern – the venture is based on a foolish premise. Hitchhiking is inherently dangerous and no amount of education can stop a bad person doing bad things – we need to be safe at ALL times. I would rather sponsor you NOT to go ahead with this scheme, as I certainly would not allow my sons or daughters this ‘adventure’.
Score: 16
Charity_Hitcher
1:17 PM on 20/3/2012
I really appreciate your concern Captain Cookie, its nice to know I’m cared for! However, there is no need for it. This is an organised event with hundreds of students taking part in it every year. As it says in the article, I have attended many health and safety briefings about it, and I will not be travelling alone with the obligation to have at least one male in any Hitch group. Said male must get into the car first and get out last and stay in the car whilst we are retrieving our possessions. we are not to hitch a lift at night and are to text into Link community development (the charity i am raising money for) by 4pm GMT every evening to state our location. Many health and safety procedures are taken place and in the 20 years that this has been going on no serious incidents have occurred. for more information on this, or if you would like to get in touch with Link to double-check anything that you are concerned with please visit http://www.lcdinternational.org/england_wales/hitch.htm
they are a helpful team and would only be too happy to ease any concerns you may have.
Alex
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