Paramedic's 999km walk to raise money for medical aid charity

Paramedic, Lysa Walder has landed in Torino, Italy to start an epic 999km walk to raise money for the charity Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

Lysa, an Emergency Care Practitioner at Croydon Urgent Care Centre, which is run by Virgin Care, will travel along the Via Francigena from Aosta to Rome following - a route made famous by pilgrims travelling from Canterbury to Rome in the 11th century. Lysa decided to make her own pilgrimage after suddenly becoming very unwell in 2012 and requiring emergency surgery. She said: "The night before the surgery I decided that I wanted a big adventure, and this is the result."

In preparation Lysa walked the 20km route home from her workplace at the Croydon University Hospital campus each day. She is now aiming to walk 30km a day on her trek and hopes to complete the journey in just over a month. Lysa said: "I am particularly looking forward to the thought that by walking roughly 30km per day it will mean I am at liberty to eat whatever I like and wash it all down with a glass of the local wine every evening with no fear of weight gain."

Lisa's journey, is already gaining worldwide support with companies donating gifts and equipment to help her along the way. One company in Canada has sent her a GPS receiver pre-programmed with her way points to prevent her from getting lost. Another company in Italy is incentivising Lysa to keep going with the promise of supplies of Prosecco along her route and a magnum of Prosecco when she gets to Rome.

Lysa has also been gifted a medical kit bumbag which will help with any acquired blisters and ensure she is able to stay on duty as an ECP whilst on her travels. Mostly though, she is hoping to be able to complete the journey and raise her target of £2,000 for Medicins Sans Frontieres.

To help support Lysa on her walk you can donate at:
http://www.justgiving.com/Lysa-Walder/ and follow her journey at:
http://proseccomedic.com
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