SIX old Malmesbury School friends are taking part in a two day hike in aid of Fill That Gap.

David Rogers, John Harrison, Paul Williams, Will York Moore, Alex Boss and Adam White, all 35, will set off from Oxford on Saturday, August 1 and aim to get to Kemble on Sunday.

They will cover a total of 52 miles and walk over eight hours a day.

Fill That Gap is a non-profit organisation with a mission to ensure that people living in developing countries, who depend on clinics staffed by expatriates, can see a doctor whenever they need.   

Mandana Mehta, wife of Adam White who is organising the walk, founded Fill That Gap in 2014 when she realised that expatriate staff are stretched very thin.

Inevitable staffing gaps mean that clinics have to close, denying communities access to the only medical care they have available.

Mandana said: “There are so many people who miss out on vital medical care because too many clinics in developing countries have to close due to lack of staff.

“We are trying to literally fill these staffing using doctors from places like Europe who will be able to help communities in great need while maintaining a carrier at home.

“We want it to be a win-win-win solution.”

Walk participant David Rogers is the only one of the group currently residing in Malmesbury, and his company Lockstones estate agency are sponsoring the walk. They are looking for other companies to join them.

“Fill That Gap has started by making partnerships with clinics in India and Bangladesh, and is recruiting doctors from Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK, so please get behind us and help us reach our target,” he said.

“It really is a worthwhile cause as the next phase is to run a pilot series of missions, in order to prove the idea can work.”

To help support Fill That Gap, you can visit their website fillthatgap.org/getinvolved.html#donate and donate via their crowdfunding page gofundme.com/matchmaking4health.