World Nomads & BUPA Doing " The Great Walk to Beijing" for Cancer

Leading online travel insurance provider, WorldNomads.com, and leading health insurance provider, BUPA International, have come together to become corporate partners of the Olivia Newton - John cancer charity event "The Great Walk to Beijing".

We have been providing assistance to a range of community programs through our Footprints organisation since 2005

(PRWEB) April 25, 2008 -- The Great Walk to Beijing brings together over 100 international celebrities, cancer survivors and supporters, all for one common international cause - the fight against cancer and the construction of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Hospital in Melbourne Australia.

The teams, which include celebrities such as Sir Cliff Richard, Ian Thorpe and Diane Heavin will walk with Olivia Newton-John and face a tough physical and mental challenge, trekking 228 kilometres over 21 days along the Great Wall of China. The journey will begin with Olivia's team on a mountain trek with 40-degree gradients, winding through dust storms into the Gobi Desert as they head to Beijing over 21 days.

Managing Director of WorldNomads.com, Simon Monk, says the decision to support the "Great Walk to Beijing" participants was a natural one for the company.

"We have been providing assistance to a range of community programs through our Footprints organisation since 2005," says Simon.

"Giving back when travelling is a natural part of our ethos… and the Great Walk to Beijing fits perfectly with that."

All Walk participants will have their travel insurance jointly covered by WorldNomads.com and BUPA.

"Not only are we supporting the Walk, we are actively participating as well. Our China Manager, William Wong, will be participating in the rigorous 6th stage of the Walk, from Badaling (on the Great Wall) to Beijing," says Simon.

"William has been eager to take part, as finding the cure for cancer is something close to his heart."

William's preparation and progress on the Walk can be followed on his blog "William's Walk".

"We are also encouraging all our travellers, who are avid online bloggers, to participate in promoting the Walk through downloading and sharing the Facebook functionality."

Walk founder, Olivia Newton-John, has acknowledged WorldNomads.com and BUPA International's involvement.

"Each new sponsor and participant brings us one step closer to our goal of $5 million to help the establishment of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre, and ultimately finding a cure for cancer," says Olivia.

"I would like to thank WorldNomads.com and BUPA for their support to the project, and look forward to welcoming William on the final stage of the Walk."

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