Press notice 23^rd September 2009 

Two exiled Zimbabweans are to undertake a grueling 55 mile sponsored walk to London on Saturday, 26^th September, to raise funds to help a Zimbabwean girl with a severe facial tumour come to the UK for urgent medical treatment.  

Luka Phiri and Dumi Tutani are members of the management team of the Zimbabwe Vigil, which has been demonstrating outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London for the past seven years in protest at human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.   

Luka and Dumi are to set off from Brighton on the south coast at 5 am and are confident of reaching the Vigil that evening.   

The Zimbabwean girl, Taremeredzwa Nomatter Mapungwana, is supported by the Zimbabwean charity Girl Child Network (http://girlchildnetworkworldwide.org/) founded by Betty Makoni in 1998. There are plans for Tare to have an operation at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London and Luka and Dumi are raising money to help meet her expenses in the UK. 

In July 1803 a Captain Robertson walked from Brighton to London and back in 45 hours. He repeated the feat in November of that year, covering the walk to London in 14 hours.  

Donations can also be deposited in the following bank account:
Bank: Lloyds TSB 
Branch: Southend-On-Sea 
Branch Code:  309784 
Account Name: Girl Child Network Trust Fund UK 
Account No.: 03872848 
SWIFT Code: LOYDGB21100  

For more information:    
Luka Phiri 07951 293 766                                   
Dumi Tutani 07960 039 775
For the Vigil: Rose Benton 07970 996 003