Walk For Water 2007 raises record sum for Negev

JNF UK WALKATHON, NOW IN ITS 14TH YEAR, EXCEEDS 1,000 KILOMETRES AND £1,000,000 TO RAISE MONEY FOR WATER PROJECTS IN THE NEGEV
Averaging 80 Kilometres Each Year, JNF UK Continues to Find Innovative Ways to Fundraise for Israel

MITZPEH RAMON, ISRAEL – October 2007 — JNF UK, the UK’s foremost charity for Israel, has returned on its epic “Walk for Water”, an annual sponsored walk to raise money for important water projects as part of its £10 million Negev Campaign. Now in its 14th year, this year’s sponsored desert hike – nicknamed “The Ramon Ramble” – took the hikers through and around the famous Ramon Crater, with an average of 20 kilometres being walked each day for 4 days. The hike is part of a continuing programme by JNF UK to assist in the development of Israel’s water resources. Previous walks successfully supported the building of the Gesher and Ma’ale Reservoirs in the Beit She’an Valley and the massive Besor and Nitzana Reservoirs in the Negev which boast a capacity of over 4 million cubic metres of water. This year, the hikers crossed the “1,000 Kilometers Walked and £1 million Raised” for Israel.
“To be truly touched by The Land, you have to touch the land itself,” said Simon Winters, Chief Executive of JNF UK and participant in every Walkathon since its inception in 1994. “The Negev Desert is an amazing place where water is a scarce resource. Our physical efforts on these walks make us appreciate water even more and our achievements over the last 14 years have been impressive. This is Zionism, 2007-style and with such a unique experience combined with such unique people, we hope to continue to walk here for many years to come, to help support Israel for life.”
There are close to 60 walkers on this year’s Walkathon whose ages range from 22 years old to 82 years old, many of whom have completed over 10 walkathons with JNF UK.
“The Ramon Crater is incredibly beautiful,” commented Morris Wiseman, 59, who comes from Wembley in London. “This is my ninth Walkathon and I cannot think of a more fantastic way to raise money for Israel. I have taken over 2,000 photos during the walks and I can tell you where every single picture was taken. Every time I put my foot on a piece of Israel since I first visited over 40 years ago, I feel like I have taken ownership of it for the Jewish People.”
The actual walking part of the trip this year ran from Monday 15th October until Thursday 18th October, with the walkers spending a well earned weekend rest in Eilat, before flying back to the UK on Sunday 21st October.