The formidable ruins of Machu Picchu are synonymous with travelling to Peru and thousands of visitors have followed in the footsteps of the Incas to the Lost City. However, due to the global pandemic, Machu Picchu was closed for the majority of 2020 and remains closed, together with most of the surrounding tourist sites in Cusco & the Sacred Valley. The lack of tourism has significantly impacted the livelihood of the porters and cooks, many of whom have no other source of income. As a result, the LATA Foundation has launched a new fundraising campaign 'Peru 25 for 25' calling for supporters to take on a 25-mile challenge, the length of the Inca trail, to help the porters and their families.

The campaign 'Peru 25 for 25' calls on all those who have trekked the Inca trail and the wider public to challenge themselves to take on 25 miles (a run, swim, walk or whatever format they prefer) throughout March 2021 to raise money for this cause with their own individual fundraising target. Each £25.00 raised will cover an essential food parcel for one porter and their family for one month with 100% of donated funds going directly towards the purchase of these food parcels. For those not up to the challenge but still keen to support this cause, they can simply donate £25 to the appeal (or whatever amount they can afford).

Jude Berry, chair of the LATA Foundation says:

“Many of the porters have returned to their villages and communities in the Andes. They are “surviving” but they are struggling without any income from tourism. On behalf of the LATA Foundation, we want to urge all those who have previously trekked the Inca trail and the wider public to support this important initiative either by challenging themselves to take on 25 miles in March or pledging £25.00 to this cause. At the LATA Foundation, many of our regular donors are travel companies and understandably, not all are in the position to support us right now so we hope this campaign has a wide-and far-reaching impact.”

The LATA Foundation is also urging the social media community to get behind this campaign from 01 March, using the hash tag #Peru25for25 and tagging @LataFoundation. 

To take part in this initiative or do donate, please visit www.latafoundation.org/25for25.  For more information on the LATA Foundation, please visit www.latafoundation.org.

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Editorial enquiries a/o interviews, please contact Kate McWilliams kate@latafoundation.org