The hardest course in the world' (From Witney Gazette)

The hardest course in the world'

9:00am Wednesday 1st November 2006 in Witney By Ruth Keeling

A SISTER persuaded her brothers to run, swim and cycle a gruelling triathlon to fund a trip to help victims of abuse and human trafficking in Cambodia.

Hannah Savory, from Witney, and her siblings raised £700 towards a trip to Cambodia in January, when she hopes to work with victims of abuse, trafficking, and prostitution.

But despite the success, she said the cycling, swimming, and running competition in Cornwall was far harder than she and her 25-year-old brother, Chris, and 20-year-old brother, Freddy, had ever imagined.

Miss Savory, 23, said: "We all finished, which was something of a miracle, because my little brother has just started university, I am working 60 hours a week, and my elder brother works as well, so none of us have had much time to train.

"I was told that the course was fairly flat, which it was - if you had grown up in the Himalayas.

"It was the hardest course in the world. I thought I was going to die."

The former Wood Green School pupil, who went on to study at Exeter University, had hoped that she and her brothers would be able to encourage each other, as they went round the track. She said: "That was the plan. But the boys started an hour before I did, so I was all by myself. But we did shout encouragement from the pool-side."

Her elder brother has already suggested that they might attempt the same competition next time, but Miss Savory is hoping that she might still be out of the country.

If not, she added: "Maybe, but I think it will take until then to recover from this one."

Miss Savory must raise £5,000 towards her trip, which has been organised by Outreach International, and says she has been astounded by the people's generosity so far.

She said: "I'd like to thank everyone who has supported me, particularly everyone in the Red Lion pub, Witney, where I work, because they had a big whip-round for me.

"I can't describe how grateful I am to everybody - especially my brothers for taking part."

* There will be a quiz night, to raise more funds, at Queen's Dyke School, Witney, on Friday, November 17, from 8pm. Prizes for the quiz and raffle have been donated by various businesses in Witney.