Barnard Castle GSK worker selected for Kenya adventure

A BARNARD Castle woman is one of 40 GlaxoSmithKline employees to be selected to trek Mount Kenya to raise money for Save the Children.
Tricia Child will take part in Trek for Kids, a joint initiative between GSK and the charity, which provides support to children in developing countries. The initial aim was to raise £160,000 but together the trekkers have smashed their goal by so far bringing in £209,000. The total will then be matched by GSK.
GSK is helping Save the Children by reducing child mortality through researching and developing medicines, widening vaccination coverage in the hardest-to-reach areas and increasing investment in training health workers. Ms Child, who works at GSK Barnard Castle, was chosen from more than 650 employees worldwide for their creative fundraising ideas.
Tasked with raising £4,000 each, she met her target through activities including bake sales, hosting a Christmas jumper day and raffle at the town’s plant, sponsored walks with her team and coffee mornings.
She has also been training for the 5,000m walk to the summit by walking regularly, and has scaled both Scafell Pike and Blencathra.
During Ms Child’s time in Kenya, she will visit Bungoma County, in the north west of the country. She will learn more about the programme being delivered by GSK and Save the Children and how it is helping to reduce maternal and newborn mortality by increasing access to quality health systems and services.
She said: “I couldn’t participate in the event without the support of my colleagues at Barnard Castle, my friends and my family. I feel really proud to be joining Save the Children’s Trek for Kids, and so close to where some of the treatments I have worked on will make a significant difference to the community.”
Brendan Fish, her manager, said: “We’ll be following her journey closely and look forward to hearing all about their adventure on their return.”