Global perspective Human stories

Annual UN walk to raise funds to feed hungry school children

Annual UN walk to raise funds to feed hungry school children

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The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and three corporate sponsors have invited people from 70 countries to join a global walk on 7 June to raise money to feed hungry school children worldwide.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and three corporate sponsors have invited people from 70 countries to join a global walk on 7 June to raise money to feed hungry school children worldwide.

“End Hunger: Walk the World” – an annual event now in its seventh year – will begin with a climb up the Sydney Harbour Bridge and continue through all 24 time zones. It will be marked by concerts in Indonesia and traditional Maasai dances in Kenya, and will conclude on the Pacific island of Samoa, WFP said in a news release.

Walkers and their sponsors are encouraged to donate one Euro for every mile walked, WFP said. This year, there is also an online walk at http://walktheweb.wfp.org/, where donors can make virtual walks and actual donations.

“Walk the World comes at a time of unprecedented challenges for the hungry and the poor,” said Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of WFP. “Children are suffering because food prices are still high in many developing countries, and the global financial crisis is now hitting family incomes hard.”

The corporate sponsors are TNT, a global mail and express delivery company; Unilever, manufacturer of food, home care, and personal products; and DSM, which makes nutrition, health and personal care products, among many others.