Mr David Andrews, Chairman of the Irish Red Cross, who is leading a fact-finding delegation to Malawi this week, said that while much had been achieved in this country, there was still an urgent need to get water and sanitation in place in order to prevent infections and disease.

\x93I am delighted to report that the work done by the Irish Red Cross over the last three and a half years as well as many other organisations has assisted in producing a relatively good harvest for the first time in many years.

However we need to make sure that the men, women and children living in Malawi are given opportunities that will lead to rates of disease, illness and starvation reducing. So the Irish Red Cross is continuing to work hard to get proper water and sanitation systems in place immediately,\x94 he explained.

Dubliner, Ms Anne Cunningham, who is working as a Red Cross delegate, based in the capital Lilongwe said that many women are left with no option but to carry large containers of water from unsanitary ponds and rivers located up to ten miles away from their village and we need women in Ireland to help these women by running for water in the Mini Marathon.

\x93Memories of the Mini Marathon have been with me since I was a child and I know that so many women across the country run for charity. I really believe that running for Red Cross water projects in Malawi is not only a really worthwhile cause, but is also a great way to help the women of Malawi,\x94 she said.

Call the Irish Red Cross on (01) 642 4600 for your Irish Red Cross Mini-Marathon pack.