Cornerstone CORNERSTONE_190_website_28 | Page 20

Cornerstone No. 190, page 20 News from Rebecca At the start of my second year as a child health nursing student at Edinburgh Napier University, I was given the opportunity to participate in a mobility placement. Having a passion for travelling as well as learning new skills, I spent a few evenings researching the possibilities that Edinburgh Napier had to offer. During a society training event, I was introduced to a charity called “First Aid Africa” and after having a long discussion with the president of the society attached to the charity, after this I decided to apply for a position as a volunteer for summer 2018. Being a student nurse, I felt this was the perfect mobility opportunity for me and would be perfect for gaining practical health care experience outside of an ordinary environment, help develop new skills and further my existing skills by teaching my knowledge to others. After a long interview with two of the society members, my application was accepted and I was now a member of the Edinburgh Napier ‘First Aid Africa’ team. First Aid Africa is an international partnership, which provides emergency healthcare training in rural communities, where access to healthcare is limited. They provide first aid to communities across Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi and Kenya. In the UK they are a registered charity and the volunteers are trained before joining colleagues from across Africa to provide lifesaving skills in areas where they are needed the most. After the annual meeting I was informed I would be spending 6 weeks in Moshi, Tanzania starting in June 2018. In order to partake in the trip I would be required to raise the funds for the charity. I have already organised a fundrais- ing pub quiz which went great. Currently a group of volunteers are doing a sponsored virtual run from Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh to Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania a total of 7,527km! We are running, walking, cycling or swimming the full distance! Please feel free to check out my givepenny page at: www.givepenny.com/beky1995_run_to_kilimanjaro_fitbit_challenge (https://goo.gl/ajpg32) to sponsor my run! Furthermore you can donate directly to total giving page at: www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/rebeccagoestoafrica (https://goo.gl/Gf3mto) I will be hosting a fundraiser at the Scots Kirk on Friday 30th March so save the date and keep an eye out for details soon! Rebecca Whitlow