On Monday (6 August), a twenty-three-year-old Englishman will leave for Alexandria, Egypt where he will start the first leg of a strange odyssey - a trans-Africa walk.

SYNOPSIS: George Cunningham says he's undertaking the walk to promote peace and understanding between all races. His aim is to raise money for the charity OXFAM, and to realise a personal goal of traversing the African continent by foot. This is not the first such walk that Mr. Cunningham has made. In 1976 he walked from Paris to Split, in Yugoslavia, and raised fifteen hundred pounds (3,300 dollars US) in aid of cancer research. This walk has received the support of President Kaunda of Zambia, President Nimeiri of the Sudan, and the Organisation of African Unity, (OAU).

The walk will take Mr. Cunningham approximately two years -- the time he says it will take to make the journey from Alexandria, Egypt to Cape Agulhas in South Africa, the southernmost point on the continent. John Darby of Visnews asked him to explain why he was starting with such a venture.

The only luxuries Mr. Cunningham will take with him are two china teacups -- so that he won't miss his afternoon tea.