Ilkley adventurer vows to continue Africa quest

Intrepid traveller Christopher Stanfield, who has completed his 2,000-mile trek across Africa

By Amanda Greaves

An adventurer who trekked 2,000 miles across Africa is continuing his mission to raise cash – and awareness of a maternity hospital in Somaliland.

Christopher Stanfield, of Ilkley, set off on his long-distance walk from Egypt to Somaliland in September last year, and arrived at the Edna Adan University Hospital, Hargeisa, in January.

But his efforts to raise international awareness of the hospital’s work, and raise money for the cause, are set to continue.

He filmed the journey in its entirety for a documentary he plans to release, and is writing a book about the trek which he hopes will contribute to positive change.

A day of fundraising for the hospital will take place at The Yard, Ilkley, on Sunday.

Mr Stanfield, who previously walked the Camino de Santiago through Southern France and Spain, came up with the idea of the Somaliland walk a year before he set off.

He wanted to raise both money and awareness for Edna Adan’s maternity hospital in Somaliland – but also wanted to help Somaliland take a step towards gaining recognition as a breakaway country in its own right, no longer affiliated to Somalia.

He says the adventure, taking his life into his own hands, led him to the brink of both his physical and mental capabilities.

The journey took him through Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti and finally Somaliland.

He set off with an American companion, David Adams, and had a camel to carry supplies – but red tape on the border with Sudan meant he was forced to say goodbye to both.

He continued his journey alone, using a cart to haul his belongings with him, through baking desert heat and over mountains.

He completed the journey on January 4, walking the last kilometre side by side with Edna Adan Ismail, finishing in front of the hospital she had built 12 years previously.

Now he hopes to capture mass media attention with his book and documentary.

He said: “The expedition has an underlying theme of providing an inspirational distraction from our modern lives and ultimately show that despite our world’s current problems there is still so much hope to be had.

“Edna Adan’s hospital is an inspiring white light in Somaliland, and it is time we all stood up and recognised both the hospital, and this ever growing and stabilising country.”

The event at The Yard, off Brook Street, Ilkley, will feature live music, a raffle, auction, barbecue and cake sale, plus a specially brewed ale.

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