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Big Brother contender saddles up for a new challenge

ANGIE BROWN

BIG Brother contestant Elizabeth Woodcock is to cycle in the Middle East for charity in an attempt to put pressure on governments to promote the road map to peace.

Ms Woodcock, 29, of Edinburgh, who is making the ten-day trip from Syria through Jordan to Lebanon with 300 women from across the world, hopes the event will highlight the everyday lives of women and children in the area.

Organisers of Follow The Women yesterday said thousands of pounds raised from the trip would be used for counselling, support, education and training for women and children "traumatised by the situation" in the area.

Ms Woodcock yesterday said women in the Middle East needed to be given a political voice.

"When I heard about this trip I thought it would be great to raise awareness of how the women and children are struggling on in the Middle East with their daily lives, unable to speak up for what they believe in."

Detta Regan, the founder and president of Follow The Women, said: "These women feel they are being ignored by the International Commission as they face barriers and curfews.

"We are launching this cycle ride for peace and so these women can tell their story. The current situation in the Middle East is unstable; women and children are suffering daily.

"Living in an area of conflict, the focus is on ?staying alive?. Practical issues such as whether you have electricity and water, where your next meal will come from and whether your children will come home today or in fact whether they can go out, are combined with the psychological burden of constant fear. Fear of abuse, fear of the future."

She added: "Those less involved in decision making, are often the ones who are socially oppressed and suffer consequences of those decisions. Follow The Women will give women the opportunity to have a say.

"Hundreds of women all cycling at the same time is not the norm in the Middle East and will attract attention and people will take notice. This is what we are aiming for in order to gain publicity, sponsorship and to capture the hearts and minds of as many people as possible.

"It will show commitment and support by women throughout both Europe and the Middle East, and educate a wide audience as to the situation facing all women living in an area of conflict.

The trip will begin on Friday.

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/inte...m?id=419462004