Gordon Brown takes to the coast

Gordon and Sarah Brown with Paul Davidson

Credit: WaterAid/George McLuskie

18 August 2010

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown took to the Scottish coast to promote a fundraising campaign for international charity WaterAid.

Mr Brown, the MP for Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath, and his family will join teams of sponsored walkers around the UK on 11 September in the Coast Along for WaterAid event - raising vital funds for our work in some of the world's poorest communities.

Coast Along for WaterAid aims to get at least one team of walkers on 187 coastal paths in selected regions throughout Scotland, England and Wales on Saturday 11 September 2010.

Money raised will help WaterAid improve access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education to those living in poverty in Africa, Asia and the Pacific region.

WaterAid was chosen to receive donations linked to the official No 10 Christmas card in 2009 while Mr Brown was Prime Minister, and the family is keen to continue their support of the charity.

Mr Brown said: "It’s a terrible fact in this day and age that in many of the world’s poorest communities preventable diseases caused by poor sanitation and unsafe water kill 4000 children every day.

"This is simply unacceptable. Access to safe sanitation, clean water and good hygiene not only vastly improves the health of communities, it also lifts them out of poverty. Without the burden of illness or the need to walk miles each day just to collect water, adults are free to earn a living, children to go to school and all can look forward to a brighter future.

"WaterAid is transforming lives by helping communities gain access to safe water and sanitation and we can all help them continue this life-saving work by walking with family and friends on our beautiful coast on 11 September.”

The Browns met Paul Davidson, who is leading a team from Scottish Water taking on the entire 87 miles of the Fife Coastal Path, from the Forth Road Bridge to the Tay Bridge.

Paul said: "We intend to walk the entire 87 mile route in just four days, starting in South Queensferry and finishing in Dundee. It will certainly be a challenge and I expect a few blisters along the way."

With sections of coastal path between four and 15 miles and graded from 'easy' to 'severe', Coast Along is an event where there’s a walk for everyone – from families to experienced walkers. Each team member is asked to raise a minimum of £50 in sponsorship for their walk, with family teams or children raising whatever they can.

When communities don't have access to clean water, the burden often falls to women and children who have to walk miles each day to collect water they know will make them ill. The distance walked by most Coast Along participants will be similar to the daily routine for millions of women and children in Africa and Asia.

For more information contact Rachel Pilkington:
020 7793 4524 / rachelpilkington@wateraid.org 

Notes to Editor:

Please credit photos: WaterAid/George McLuskie

WaterAid's vision is of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation. Our mission is to transform lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world’s poorest communities.  We work with partners and influence decision-makers to maximise our impact.  www.wateraid.org 

• At least 4000 children die every day as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation.
• 884 million people in the world do not have access to safe water. This is roughly one in eight of the world's population.
• 2.6 billion people in the world do not have access to adequate sanitation, this is almost two fifths of the world's population.
• Just £15 can enable one person to access safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation.