Bexhill schoolgirl's 1,000-mile trek in aid of world's rainforests

A schoolgirl is embarking on walking 1,000 miles this year for charity.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Feb 2017, 11:39 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 21:26 BST

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Abigail WheelerAbigail Wheeler
Abigail Wheeler

Abigail Wheeler, seven, started her fundraising trek last month and is trying to amass 1,000 miles through numerous walks throughout 2017 in aid of The Rainforest Foundation UK.

Her mum Lindsay White said: “Abigail loves nature and is hoping to be a gardener when she’s older. A few years ago she asked what the painted red marks on some trees meant, in particular the trees at Tunbridge Wells where the road is currently being changed. I explained to her they were the trees due to be cut down which really upset her.

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“Just before Christmas her school, King Offa Academy, were learning about the rainforest. As part of this her year group did a sponsored walk to raise money for the rainforest. That’s where Abigail’s cause came from.

“After Christmas she wrote to the Queen as she wanted to ‘go to the top’ to let her know of her upset at seeing trees taken away. The Queen replied with well wishes for Abigail’s fundraising efforts.

“Since then King Offa has supported Abigail by allowing her to wear a pedometer at school so she can walk at lunch times and so on and by sharing her efforts.”

To date Abigail has walked 110 miles and raised just over £100. Her next planned walk will be on April 5 from Hastings Pier to Bexhill Colonnade, where she will be wearing her special t-shirt and her money collection tin so passers-by can donate if they wish.

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Her mum added: “We try to walk everywhere we can, where we might have otherwise used the car or bus.

“Many businesses have been offering help to by displaying her leaflets and taking in donations, shops such as Jellybeans toy shop, Golden Palace in Pebsham, Rose Kebab, Tea Beside the Sea and The Bexhill Forest.”

To sponsor Abigail go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Abirainforestsaver.

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