Connie Fisher calls on Scots to 'Climb Every Mountain'

15 February 2010

Connie Fisher with some woolly little helpers

Credit: WaterAid

The Sound of Music star, Connie Fisher, is lending her voice to an appeal for people across Scotland to 'climb every mountain' and help lift those in need in the developing world out of poverty.

The singing star took time out of her sell-out performance in Andrew Lloyd-Webber's stage hit to show her support for the 2010 WaterAid Munro Challenge. The event aims to raise cash for the charity by roping in teams to climb every mountain over 3000 feet in the UK and Ireland.

Connie said: "It's hard to imagine living without clean water, but millions of children in some of the world's poorest countries don't have access to this basic need. That's why I'm encouraging people to 'climb every mountain' for the WaterAid Munro Challenge. By taking on the personal challenge of climbing one of Scotland's beautiful Munros or even the highest peaks in England and Wales, you can help WaterAid change lives by providing safe water, sanitation and hygiene education for families living in poverty."

WaterAid works all year round to improve the lives of those living in poverty in Africa, Asia and the Pacific region. Across the world a child dies every 20 seconds from a water-related illness and WaterAid wants to stop this where it can.

The event, hosted by Scottish Water and supported by the UK water industry, takes place on Saturday, June 12, 2010 when teams need to be at the top of their chosen peak between midday and 2pm. This year's challenge is looking to attract more than 5,000 people to form teams of four to six to reach the summits of all the Munros in Scotland and the 3000ft peaks in England, Ireland and Wales.

Peter Dowswell, Chair of the Munro Challenge Steering Group said: "We want to raise as much money as we can for WaterAid. This event is open to all competent walkers over 18 and we usually have people from all walks of life.  It's a great day out and enables people to fulfil a personal challenge of climbing mountains in some of the country's most spectacular countryside.

"At the same time they are raising money which will help people on the other side of the world to enjoy better access to one of life's basic needs - water."

To help lift people out of poverty, all you have to do is get a team together, with a minimum sponsorship of £50 per person and then register your team by going to the Munro Challenge website www.wateraidmunrochallenge.org.uk or calling our hotline on 0141 355 5730.

Notes to Editors:

• The Munro Challenge brings together professional fundraisers, the private and public sectors and people who want to climb hills. The challenge is expected to engage 5000 people with WaterAid's work.
• All 302 mountains are graded and participants can check out the grading on the website before they chose which hill they want to climb.
• 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.
• 2.5 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.

Media requiring further information should contact Diana Milford at Scottish Water on 01383 848231 or Rachel Pilkington at WaterAid on 020 7793 4537.