Michela prepares to work with MAGS in Cambodia. MILTON HAWORTH REF: 0466583North West Evening Mail
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
COMMUNITIES in Cambodia are living with the constant threat of deadly explosives, the remnants of conflicts since the Vietnam war.
A Lakes woman will experience the amazing life-saving work being done and meet the heroes dedicating their lives to destroying the landmines, reports JO DAVIES
RUNNING through the kit list, the inclusion of a hard hat confirms Michela Deegan’s trip to Cambodia cannot be considered a holiday.
The self-employed training consultant is heading to one of the most heavily-mined countries in the world.
A hard hat would offer little defence against the deadly ordnance but she won’t be taking any unnecessary risks.
Michela will be working with landmine clearance charity MAG, a world leader in explosives detection.
Cambodia is littered with thousands of unexploded landmines.
The remnants of conflict from both the Vietnam War and the Cambodian-Vietnamese War lay strewn across the country.
They lurk in gardens, fields, parks and trees, threatening communities for years to come.
Since 2001 nearly 5,000 Cambodian men, women and children have been horribly disfigured and killed by the weapons of these past conflicts.
Michela reached a point when she decided she must help, after hearing motivational speaker Chris Moon discuss his inspiring experience of surviving a blast which took his arm and leg.
“He went to work for the HALO Trust, which is a charity like MAG,” explained Michela, 38, of Ings, near Windermere.
“He was de-mining in Africa and he stood on a mine which blew off his leg and arm.
“He nearly died. But he went on to run 10 marathons to raise awareness, including the Great Sahara Run.
“He was such an inspiration and it always stuck in my mind to do something for that type of charity.
“Then I was travelling home from London on the train last summer and this expedition was advertised in a magazine.
“I thought wouldn’t it be wonderful to do something like that.
“But I didn’t do anything about it immediately.
“It seemed like a lot of money to raise. I had another think about it in December.
“I decided to pay the travel fees myself, so all the other money raised goes straight to the charity.
“I’ve got about £500 so far.”
The challenge costs £2,975 per person, of which less than half covers the cost of running the event.
Michela has donated to charities in the past – running marathons and swimming the length of Windermere for Marie Curie Cancer Care – but she wanted to go to the root of the problem.
“I didn’t want to do an event like trek the Himalayas because you’re not doing anything directly to help.
“This is more hands on,” she said.
There will be ample opportunity for Michela and the group to get their hands dirty during the challenge.
“They will spend four days building traditional Khmer-style houses for the poor and victims of landmines, in temperatures as high as 34C.
When she’s not grafting, the rest of the trip will be as strenuous.
On the first day there’s a steep 350m ascent to Tapeanh Village, before a trek through the jungle, into villages and past “the Big Buddha” statue that overlooks the whole of the Siem Reap Province.
One of the highlights of the challenge is a trek to the UNESCO world heritage site of Angkor Wat.
There will be one day in 11 to explore Siem Reap at leisure.
Michela has been utilising the Lake District’s fells to build her stamina.
“I’ve been doing a bit of walking but my building experience is pretty limited,” she said.
“There will be people there to help though.
“ The only thing is the heat. It will be really hot and we’ll be working outside labouring.
“But I’m looking forward to doing something constructive.”
It will be the first time Michela has left her four-year-old daughter Caitlin for any length of time but she’s looking forward to the challenge.
“It will be great to see Cambodia because it’s supposed to be beautiful and not as commercialised as Thailand’s become.
“The people are supposed to be very warm and welcoming.
“They’ve been through a lot in history.
“Cambodia is one of the most heavily-mined countries in the world, so there is some risk. But I will be trying not to take any.”
It should be some comfort to her husband Jonathan that this will be the first and last time she intends to take on such a challenge.
“I’m not planning on doing anything like this again,” said Michela, who was educated at Alfred Barrow School and Barrow Sixth Form College.
“It takes a lot of commitment from my family.
“They’re having to make a lot of adjustments while I’m away,” she explained.
“But I don’t like beach holidays, so it will be good to be doing something.”
Michela Deegan will join MAG in Cambodia on March 19. To sponsor Michela visit www.justgiving.co.uk/micheladeegan
COMMUNITIES in Cambodia are living with the constant threat of deadly explosives, the remnants of conflicts since the Vietnam war.
A Lakes woman will experience the amazing life-saving work being done and meet the heroes dedicating their lives to destroying the landmines, reports JO DAVIES
RUNNING through the kit list, the inclusion of a hard hat confirms Michela Deegan’s trip to Cambodia cannot be considered a holiday.
The self-employed training consultant is heading to one of the most heavily-mined countries in the world.
A hard hat would offer little defence against the deadly ordnance but she won’t be taking any unnecessary risks.
Michela will be working with landmine clearance charity MAG, a world leader in explosives detection.
Cambodia is littered with thousands of unexploded landmines.
The remnants of conflict from both the Vietnam War and the Cambodian-Vietnamese War lay strewn across the country.
They lurk in gardens, fields, parks and trees, threatening communities for years to come.
Since 2001 nearly 5,000 Cambodian men, women and children have been horribly disfigured and killed by the weapons of these past conflicts.
Michela reached a point when she decided she must help, after hearing motivational speaker Chris Moon discuss his inspiring experience of surviving a blast which took his arm and leg.
“He went to work for the HALO Trust, which is a charity like MAG,” explained Michela, 38, of Ings, near Windermere.
“He was de-mining in Africa and he stood on a mine which blew off his leg and arm.
“He nearly died. But he went on to run 10 marathons to raise awareness, including the Great Sahara Run.
“He was such an inspiration and it always stuck in my mind to do something for that type of charity.
“Then I was travelling home from London on the train last summer and this expedition was advertised in a magazine.
“I thought wouldn’t it be wonderful to do something like that.
“But I didn’t do anything about it immediately.
“It seemed like a lot of money to raise. I had another think about it in December.
“I decided to pay the travel fees myself, so all the other money raised goes straight to the charity.
“I’ve got about £500 so far.”
The challenge costs £2,975 per person, of which less than half covers the cost of running the event.
Michela has donated to charities in the past – running marathons and swimming the length of Windermere for Marie Curie Cancer Care – but she wanted to go to the root of the problem.
“I didn’t want to do an event like trek the Himalayas because you’re not doing anything directly to help.
“This is more hands on,” she said.
There will be ample opportunity for Michela and the group to get their hands dirty during the challenge.
“They will spend four days building traditional Khmer-style houses for the poor and victims of landmines, in temperatures as high as 34C.
When she’s not grafting, the rest of the trip will be as strenuous.
On the first day there’s a steep 350m ascent to Tapeanh Village, before a trek through the jungle, into villages and past “the Big Buddha” statue that overlooks the whole of the Siem Reap Province.
One of the highlights of the challenge is a trek to the UNESCO world heritage site of Angkor Wat.
There will be one day in 11 to explore Siem Reap at leisure.
Michela has been utilising the Lake District’s fells to build her stamina.
“I’ve been doing a bit of walking but my building experience is pretty limited,” she said.
“There will be people there to help though.
“ The only thing is the heat. It will be really hot and we’ll be working outside labouring.
“But I’m looking forward to doing something constructive.”
It will be the first time Michela has left her four-year-old daughter Caitlin for any length of time but she’s looking forward to the challenge.
“It will be great to see Cambodia because it’s supposed to be beautiful and not as commercialised as Thailand’s become.
“The people are supposed to be very warm and welcoming.
“They’ve been through a lot in history.
“Cambodia is one of the most heavily-mined countries in the world, so there is some risk. But I will be trying not to take any.”
It should be some comfort to her husband Jonathan that this will be the first and last time she intends to take on such a challenge.
“I’m not planning on doing anything like this again,” said Michela, who was educated at Alfred Barrow School and Barrow Sixth Form College.
“It takes a lot of commitment from my family.
“They’re having to make a lot of adjustments while I’m away,” she explained.
“But I don’t like beach holidays, so it will be good to be doing something.”
Michela Deegan will join MAG in Cambodia on March 19. To sponsor Michela visit www.justgiving.co.uk/micheladeegan
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