On Friday 27 February, Jonathan Djanogly the Member of Parliament for the Huntingdon Constituency presented cheques totalling £10,500 to two local charities following his successful Great Wall of China Challenge. In September 2008, Jonathan and his wife Rebecca joined a 17-strong team for a ten day expedition along the Great Wall of China, raising funds for various charities.
The team, which spent six days traversing 100km along the Great Wall after months of training, was raising money on behalf of 'Westminster Challenge', a charity established in 2006 to bring politics and charities closer together. Jonathan has nominated Huntingdonshire Careers and the St Neots Abuse Project as the beneficiaries of the funds he and Rebecca raised.
Jonathan Djanogly said, "It was amazing to be involved in such an event and I believe that it is important for people involved in politics to learn more about charities and to help them where they can. By participating in the Westminster Challenge our team of 17 have helped enormously and have learnt a great deal about the work of a number of charities in the process."
Richard Stephenson, Chairman of Westminster Challenge, said, "I know how tough the trek along the Great Wall of China is and I know how hard Jonathan and Rebecca will have worked to complete the expedition. Westminster Challenge is all about involving politicians from across the political divide with both local and national charities and I am delighted that we are able to lend our support to the two vital organisations that Jonathan has nominated to receive the funds he raised."
Photo: Jonathan Djanogly presents cheques totally £10.500 to Vera Jackson of Carers UK Huntingdonshire and Anne Harris of SNAP.