TWO intrepid Exmouth dads are setting out on a gruelling coastal trek in support of their children’s school appeal for Africa.

TWO intrepid Exmouth dads are setting out on a gruelling coastal trek in support of their children’s school appeal for Africa.

Jim Hunter and Mark Hoole, both former soldiers, will be hiking from Plymouth to Poole along the Jurassic Coast – a total of 217 miles in just six days.

Their slog will take place during Christian Aid Week from May 16-21 stopping off in Salcombe, Brixham, Exmouth, West Bay, Weymouth and Poole Harbour.

They hope to raise over �2000 which will be added to the funds being raised by the children of The Beacon School.

The pupils have set themselves a target of �5000 for Christian Aid which will be match-funded by the European Union to a colossal total of �25,000.

The money will be invested into training and equipping farmers in Burkina Faso to feed their families and to provide sustainable agriculture long into the future – helping them grow themselves out of poverty.

“Mark and I are really proud to be playing our part in this great project” says James, a former soldier with the Pathfinder Platoon, 5th Airborne Brigade. who has served in Northern Ireland, Kenya and Malaysia. “I’ve worked in North Africa and The Sahara for the last 17 years.

“The people in the poorest communities are just like us, they want the best for their families, they want to see their children grow up healthy, strong and well educated. More than anything they want them to grow up without having to rely on handouts and charity. That’s what’s so exciting about this project. The money doesn’t just disappear, it’s invested in the farmers’ skills and new techniques so that they can provide for their families and stand on their own feet with dignity!”

Laura McAdam, Christian Aid’s Regional Co-ordinator for Devon, based in Exmouth said “This is another wonderful example of people doing what they can for the poorest places on the planet.”

If you would like to sponsor Jim and Mark or make a donation to the Beacon Trek, visit www.justgiving.com/walkagainstpoverty or call in to The Beacon School or The Christian Aid Office 35a Parade, Exmouth (next to Iceland).