News Release

24th March 2010

Help Beat the Jigger with Feed The Children!

The female sand flea (Tunga Penetrans), which is also known as a jigger in Uganda, is causing untold suffering to children.  You have a chance to help Feed The Children (UK) stamp out this pain in the foot simply by taking a stroll in the country. Pull on your Wellingtons and boots and join their 5km sponsored walk in the grounds of the beautiful Westonbirt National Arboretum, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire on Sunday 25th April 2010 at 11.30 a.m.  As well as getting some fresh air and exercise among the trees, you can even donate your boots (or any wellies) to this very good cause!

Jiggers embed themselves predominately in the skin of children’s feet and ankles, where they feed on the blood and flesh of their host.  Heavy infestations can lead to severe inflammation, ulceration and fibrosis. Lymphangitis, gangrene, sepsis, the loss of toenails, auto-amputation of the digits and even death are potential outcomes. The females lay around 100 eggs each and thirty days later the process can start again.

The little flea with a big ‘bite’ is just one of the campaigns run by Feed The Children (UK), which is promoting a programme to help stamp it out from some of the worst affected areas in Africa. You can help our two-year project, and others, simply by taking part in the walk - find out more.

The wellie walk is for all ages. Any size, shape or colour of wellies will do to take part and the walk will take around an hour. Dogs are more than welcome (with or without wellies, although dogs are not able to go inside the Old Arboretum). All we ask is a minimum sponsorship of £4 per person. For sponsorship form simply sign up on-line at or ring 0118 932 0095. By having at least £4 sponsorship on your form you get free access to the arboretum for the day.

“Westonbirt is a fantastic place to visit and the Wellie Walk around the grounds is a fun way for people to raise sponsorship for Feed The Children, whilst having a lot of fun exercising in the beautiful grounds of the Westonbirt National Arboretum,” says Brian Main, the charity’s Chief Executive.

At the end of the 5km walk there will be a container, where people can donate their Wellington boots to help the charity’s Stamp Out Jiggers Appeal. The boots will be sent on to Africa, where children and young people will wear them to protect their feet from the crippling affects of sand fleas. You can also find out more about our Jiggers Campaign.

You can also help today...