A dentist is organising a charity sports race that includes the chance to win a diamond.
Lucy Jaffa, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, is hosting the multi-sports race – Diamond Quest Ireland – for the African Schools Trust charity.
And the aim is to raise funds to feed 1,000 teachers and school children in the slums of Nairobi.
The quest is being organised by Adventure Ireland and Causeway Coast Adventure Racing and there are four diamonds up for grabs as an added incentive to get involved.
It takes place in May in and around the Irish Carlingford and Mourne Mountains and includes a hill run, a kayak section and a bike ride.
Lucy Jaffa explains: ‘To give everyone the opportunity to win one of our diamonds, we’ll be allocating one for those in the top 50, another for the next 100 and a third diamond for the rest of the competitors.
‘Plus, there’ll also be an extra diamond to be won by any competitor or guest at the party that night in O’Hare’s bar in Newcastle, where we’ll sneak a diamond into a glass of champagne! It means you don’t have to be the fittest to win a diamond, and you’ll still have fun taking part.’
Everest climber and dentist Hannah Shields, who is supporting the event, said: ‘Taking part in a race like this will give competitors such a fantastic buzz of adrenaline, as well as the great feeling of helping so many needy children in Africa.’
Also taking part are Lucy Evangelista, former Miss UK, and Ulster rugby player Matt McCullough.
For those wishing to enter the race, which takes place on Saturday 9 May 2009, the fee is £80 (which includes T-shirt, post race party entry and refreshments).
For further details, visit www.diamondquestireland.com.
