Herefordshire | Archive | 2003 | October | 2
From the archive, first published Thursday 2nd Oct 2003.
LEGS are made for walking and Don Powell will prove it in an eight-day trek across the Sahara Desert.
The farmer and businessman is not sure what he has let himself in for and puts the blame on Ron Davies, Herefordshire fund raiser for Macmillan Cancer Relief.
"After talking to Ron I realised what a wonderful charity this was and decided to give it my support," said Don who lives at Pencoyd Manor, St Owens Cross.
Backing for his part in the official Sahara Trek came from his daughter and son-in-law Judy and Colin Watts of Garden Marquees in Hereford.
They decided to erect a marquee in the grounds of Pencoyd Manor and organise a charity ball for round 250 people at £39 a ticket.
After dining and dancing, Don will invite the guests to become involved in an auction of promise with more than 40 items under offer.
"There will be a wide range of choice from a days fishing or shooting, glider flights and flying lessons and dinners and lunches," said Don.
He hopes the event, to take place on October 18, will raise a generous sum for Macmillan Cancer Relief.
It is not the first time Don, who is celebrating his 64th birthday, has put himself out to support good causes.
Last year he took part in a 300-mile cycle ride from Greenwich to Paris and raised £2,000 for Action Research a charity which looks into children's diseases.
And on other occasions he has been to Romania supporting Herefordshire Challenge with its donations of farm machinery and helping farmers there to start growing their food again.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008