3 February 2012

Karen Lewis, Health, Safety and Environment Administrator at the Costain Laing O'Rourke Joint Venture, Farringdon Station, is taking part in a ten day trek across Costa Rica to raise funds for the charity, Help For Heroes*.  

The Costa Rica Jungle Trek, begins on February 15, and will take Karen across 350 kilometres/220 miles of the South American country, from the Pacific to the Caribbean coast.  The terrain is varied and involves jungle, tropical rainforest, cloud forest (high in the mountains), over Irazu, the highest volcano in Costa Rica, finally ending up on a tropical beach after six hours of white water rafting.

Karen is one of 34 people attempting the challenge, and the team consists of Bryn and Emma Parry, the charity founders, and two injured soldiers, one of whom is blind and will be assisted by his brother.  

In October 2010, Karen trekked 100km across the Sahara Desert and raised £9,000 for the charity.  This time Karen's aim is to raise £12,000, which she has almost raised.

"I need high fitness levels in order to compete and I have been on an intensive exercise regime and low fat diet," said Karen. "This trek is rated much harder than the Sahara Desert." 

Karen has paid for the trip out of her own funds which means that all sponsorship money will go straight to the charity and not used on expenses. 

*Help for Heroes was founded by Bryn and Emma Parry in October 2007 out of a desire to help the wounded service men and women returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. To date Help for Heroes has raised over £124 million."

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