A DROITWICH woman will walk from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail to raise money for charity.
Lakshya Jain, 23, will take on the 2,650-mile trail in March 2023 to raise money for Doctors Without Borders.
Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is the world’s leading medical humanitarian aid organisation, working in 70 countries in conflict zones, natural disasters and epidemics.
The charity is independent, neutral and impartial, providing medical care where it is most needed.
Lakshya said: “It is quite daunting to think it will take me around five months to complete and that I will be completely self-supported with everything I carry being what I need to survive.
“I chose this charity because I believe everyone should have equal access to healthcare – there is a wealth gap, and the rich live longer, which is not right.”
Trail Majesty Descending toward Soledad Canyon. Photo by Ryan Choi and provided by the Pacific Crest Trail Association. s
Lakshya has dreamed of doing the trail since she was 15, but the walk is not for the faint-hearted.
Her journey begins with her walking 700 miles of desert terrain until she reaches the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges, which is where the main bulk of the walk will take place.
To finish off the near half-year-long hike, Lakshya will finish her walk around the forests in British Columbia’s Manning Provincial Park.
Of the approximately 2,000 hikers that attempt the trail each year, only about 40 per cent succeed in completing it.
Snoqualmie Pass, which is one of the routes on the Pacific Crest Trail. Photo by Connie Davis and provided by the Pacific Crest Trail Association. s
“As well as physical, there is a lot of mental preparation for the trail as inevitably things will go wrong, and I need to be prepared in dealing with that,” she added.
Across the months, she will have to carry all the items she needs to survive her rucksack and will have to organise posting food to herself during her hike.
She is currently looking for sponsors who may wish to be featured on her top during the trip.
Visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Lakshya-Jain-PCT to donate.
Organisations which can sponsor her can message her at @lakshya_the_hiker on Instagram.
