A MIDWIFE at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust is preparing to go the extra mile to raise money for a charity dedicated to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates in developing countries.
Sally Griffiths, who is based at St Mary's Maternity Unit in Portsmouth, has pledged to walk the famous El Camino de Santiago - or Way of St James' – in Spain, this month, and hopes to raise £5,000 for SafeHands for Mothers.
The money will go towa
rds helping expectant mothers in Ethiopia, one of the charity's main focuses.
Sally, from Hayling, wanted to do the 88-mile walk after she learned that 24,000 women in Ethiopia die during pregnancy or childbirth every year.
She told the Islander: "When I read the statistics I was shocked. So as a midwife, to be a small part of this charity to try and raise funds to help reduce these statistics is an honour and privilege.
"I am looking forward to spending time with people for the SafeHands for Mothers charity."
Founded in 2003 SafeHands aims to raise awareness on making pregnancy safer and drawing attention to topics such as female genital mutilation, child marriage and obstetric fistula – one of the most devastating childbirth injuries.
If the blood supply is cut off by prolongued labour it can cause a tear in the rectum, bladder or vagina, ending in many African women being abandoned by their husbands.
Nancy Durrell McKenna, founder director of SafeHands for Mothers, praised Sally for her efforts.
She said: "I am honoured to have Sally as a fellow pilgrim.
"She will be one of 20 dedicated individuals walking to raise vital funds for SafeHands, starting on June 14.
"The fact that one woman dies every minute somewhere in the world due to pregnancy-related causes is a tragedy and one that is largely preventable.
"This pilgrimage will be a physical endurance for all and yet our exertion will pale in significance to the daily hardships endured by those women for whom life is one of daily physical endurance."
However, Sally is no stranger to fundraising. During the past seven years the midwife, with 27 years' experience, has raised around £6,000 for the trust's maternity unit by taking part in the Paris To Hayling Cycle Ride.
She works as a full-time clinical midwife at St Mary's, which includes labour, antenatal and postnatal wards.
Sally is also an active member of the trust's Bereavement Support Group, which offers care and advice for people dealing with the loss of a loved one.
She said the group inspired her to take part in the Walk for Life, which starts on June 14 and should take five days to complete.
Sally added: "The thought that families in Ethiopia would not receive this support is distressing.
"I hope the walk will raise awareness and go some way to help improve midwifery services in that land."
Earlier in May, the trust marked International Day of the Midwife with a special ceremony at St Mary's where 60 candles were extinguished, one every minute, to signify the women who had died during the time of the service.
The powerful representation showed the importance of midwives skills and knowledge and the vital contribution they make to the health service.
To sponsor Sally visit www.justgiving.com/sallygriffiths or call 9246 5697. To find more information about Safe Hands for Mothers visit www.safehands.org
