CALUM BEST HEADS OFF FOR VIETNAM CHARITY TREK

Published: 27th February 2010 11:34

CALUM BEST HEADS OFF FOR VIETNAM CHARITY TREK

By Gemma Roberts, Community Newswire

ADVENTURE Best, 26 Feb 2010 - 12:30

Calum Best is preparing to leave his celebrity lifestyle in London to take part in a charity trek in Vietnam.

The 29-year-old television personality will fly to Hanoi on Saturday to join a team of trekkers raising funds for The Children's Trust, which provides care, education, therapy and rehabilitation for children with multiple disabilities, complex health needs and acquired brain injuries.

Calum and his fellow trekkers - including television presenter Gail Porter and Alfie Russell, who has benefited directly from the charity's services - will travel by train from Hanoi to Lao Cai, where the walk will begin, taking them through the region of Sapa.

From there they will make their way through the beautiful and remote region of Sapa in the north west of Vietnam, and experience Vietmamese culture by staying in villages along the route before returning to the UK on March 8.

Calum, who is hoping to raise at least £5,000 for the charity, said:

I am delighted to be taking part in this trek as, having met the children at The Children's Trust, I have seen at first hand their determination, regardless of their disabilities, to take on their own individual challenges to help them enjoy a better quality of life."

Fellow trekker Alfie spent 11 months at the Children's Trust 10 years ago, after he was knocked off his bike. He said:

For three months I was in hospital unable to walk, talk and eat. My parents were told I would stay this way.

"Fortunately for me I was transfered to the Children's Trust. I remember my time at the trust as happy times even though I was going through the most intensive rehab you could imagine.

"I do not remember being unable to eat and talk but I can remember vividly being unable to walk, at 10 years old (and three months after being at the trust) I can remember asking my mum if I was going to stay this way - in a wheelchair - she found it hard to look me in the eye but said I needed time. I cried and cried and she cuddled me: that was hardest.

"Well I did walk again, in fact I ran, jumped and played football again, all because my physio, Helen, helped me; well she made me!

"I even ran the London Marathon in 2008 in four hours and 38 minutes."

The Children's Trust, based in Tadworth, Surrey, is a national charity that provides services designed to meet the individual needs of disabled children across the UK, with the aim of enhancing their quality of life. For more information go to www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/.

To sponsor Calum on his walk go to www.justgiving.com/Calum-Best.

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