I want to walk at least 5km barefoot on the Milford-Takapuna walk Sunday 21 May.

Obstetric fistula is a horrific childbirth injury causing incontinence, leaving young women as social outcasts. Many of these young women in Ethiopia are teenagers.

When a young teenage girls suffering with obstetric fistula hears about the work of Hamlin Fistula, they are usually located in some of the most remote parts of Ethiopia and have to endure a laborious trek to get to the nearest hospital. For most, this will mean many kilometres of walking, usually barefoot.

The Hamlin Barefoot Challenge is a great way to get a small sense of what women who have a fistula may experience when making the strenuous journey to a hospital. Being able to fundraise to reduce the pain that they have to go through will be of great service to them.

Please help us prevent obstetric fistula and provide surgery for teenage girls with childbirth injuries.

• Every $30 donation can help prevent fistula through providing pregnancy and birth care for one mother and baby
• Every $140 donation can supply one month of life-saving essential drug supplies to a Hamlin Midwifery Centre 
• Every $1300 donation can restore dignity with one standard fistula surgery at a regional Hamlin hospital