Sisters Walking for the Leaking Women of Africa

Sisters Walking for the Leaking Women of Africa

August 3, 2010– North Shore, Auckland

On Sunday 5th September sisters Jo (20) and Katie Perkins (22) will set off on the first leg of a sixteen day 430km sponsored walk from Auckland to Cape Reinga. It is in an effort to raise the awareness of, and funds for, the 1.5 – 2 million women in Africa who suffer from obstetric fistula.

The sisters began planning the walk almost two years ago after they heard Deb Fabrin, from the charity L Women of Africa (LWOA), speak about the terrible consequences of obstetric fistula, an internal injury caused by prolonged, obstructed labour.

“In some parts of Africa girls marry when they are as young as 10 or 12,” Jo says. “Because they are small they often have difficult births and, without medical assistance, they can be in labour for days.

“When they eventually deliver, the baby is stillborn and they have internal injuries that, without surgery, will never heal.”

These injuries cause constant leaking from the bladder, and sometimes the bowel, forcing the women to live as outcasts in their own communities. Their only hope of cure involves a long journey, often on foot, to one of the few hospitals offering fistula surgery.

Jo and Katie see their walk as a way of representing the journey many of these women have to make, while at the same time raising funds for the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia. The hospital was founded in 1974 by New Zealand obstetrician and gynaecologist, the late Reg Hamlin, and his Australian wife, Dr Catherine Hamlin.

In an added, if unwelcome, touch of realism, both sisters had their preparations for the walk hampered by injury.

“I broke my knee skiing, and Katie tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee playing soccer, so we both had surgery in February. It’s been a bit difficult, but we’re hopeful we won’t have any problems when we’re on the road.”

Jo was in America last year working as an Au Pair but had to return home earlier than expected due to the skiing accident. With a passion for food Jo is now doing two Food and Nutrition papers with Open Polytechnic, as well as hunting for a new job.

Katie is finishing her last year of a Sport & Recreation and Business conjoint degree at AUT University and after graduating wants to join the Police Force. She is also working towards the goal of playing cricket for New Zealand, a goal she has had since she first started playing at age 5.

The sisters have planned their route carefully, covering an average of 27kms a day, and incorporating visits to local schools and churches to raise awareness of the fistula problem.

“We’ve been doing our bit to spread the word over the last few months, and have had some really great responses,” Jo says. “TVNZ Breakfast host Pippa Wetzell, nutritionist and Director of Mission Nutrition Claire Turnbull, and New Zealand Women’s cricket captain Aimee Watkins have posted messages on our website, and a number of places are sponsoring us free accommodation along our route.
“Plane Tree Lodge near Kaitaia has even promised us a hot evening meal when we arrive and a packed lunch to take on the road the next day!”

A charity auction of donated goods will be held on TradeMe during the walk.

To sponsor Jo and Katie go to www.sisterswalkforbeautiful.org.nz

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