A WALK of several miles each day to collect water is still fact of life for many people in the third world.

A team students and graduates reflected that fact when they took part in marathon march from the Cameroonian embassy in London to the University of Southampton.

The three-day, 75-mile walk raised more than £3,000 for the international development charity Cameroon Catalyst.

Cameroon Catalyst was founded in 2009 by two Civil Engineering students from the University of Southampton; Claire Gott and Emily Hill to provide improved infrastructure and facilities to rural villages in Eastern Cameroon.

Past projects have included building a medical centre, classrooms and a solar-powered electricity hub.

The charity is currently fundraising to improve local sanitation and access to clean water, as 50 per cent of rural Cameroonians do not have access to safe drinking water.

The ultra-marathon event was intended to reflect the difficulties involved in collecting water from a distant, and often unhealthy, sources , several times each day.

One of the team members, Anthony Morris, a recent graduate in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Southampton, said: “The walk was very challenging, but it is fantastic to see the amount we have raised for the charity. I’m very proud to have been involved.”

The charity plans to make the ultra-marathon walk an annual event. To get involved in a future walk, or support the charity’s work in Cameroon, more visit camerooncatalyst.org or email info@camerooncatalyst.org.