Claire set to slum it in Brazil to help poorest

Claire Watkins is spending two weeks helping to build new homes in one of the poorest areas of Brazil. She will be working in Curitiba, in the country's south, where the Campo Largo area contains 31 slum districts.

Legal secretary Claire, 27, said: "I wanted to do something life-changing before I hit 30."

A member of the King's Gate Church, she is raising funds to buy materials for her project. A cake sale at her employer, Thomas Eggar solicitors in Chichester, and a quiz in Bognor raised 300 in all.

She will also be running her first race, the Bognor Prom 10k in May, six days after her return for further sponsorship despite suffering a nasty fall during her training. Claire is visiting Brazil with the Christian relief charity, Mission Direct.

This provides practical help to poor people in developing countries by sending out volunteers on two-week relays.

Normanton Avenue resident Claire will be joined by four others from the UK travelling to Brazil.

They will meet with charity representatives in the country and Brazilians from the church in Campo Largo.

The government has given the land in the area to enable the new housing to be built and has made the services connections ready for the properties.

Claire can be sponsored at www.justgiving.com/clairewatkins

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