The U.K.'s wildly popular Comic Relief charity is beginning its 28th year of raising millions for poverty-stricken families in the U.K. and Africa. One of the biggest health issues facing many African nations is the lack of a fresh water supply. The lack of clean drinking, cooking and bathing water in countries in Africa has led to widespread sickness and death, particularly among small children.

The Zambezi Challenge

Celebrities, corporate leaders and individuals intent on helping to provide poor communities worldwide with a fresh water supply and other essentials for health and survival take time out to participate in the annual Zambezi White Water Rafting Challenge, a global fundraiser to benefit poverty-stricken communities. The Zambezi River in southern Africa runs along the northern borders of Botswana and Zambia, past the breathtaking Victoria Falls, through Mozambique where it empties into the Indian Ocean. Rafters board their rafts near Victoria Falls, the world's largest sheet of falling water located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, and the exhilarating challenge begins.

The Rafting Route

The Zambezi Challenge route travels through some of the areas that benefit from Comic Relief's fundraising efforts to provide a fresh water supply. Beginning with rapids in the Batoka Gorge below Victoria Falls, the Zambezi white water rafting trip takes participants east through 3 days of thrilling rapids and evening camps on sandy beaches along the Zambezi River. Eventually, the rafters make it to the magnificent Lower Moemba Falls and end the rafting excursion shooting one of the longest and biggest rapids on the river. Participants in the charity challenge are then treated to a helicopter flight back up to the gorge with an aerial view of the route they just travelled.

A Fresh Water Supply Vital for Survival

Children and adults living in slums, particularly in African countries, suffer illnesses and sometimes die from the lack of a fresh water supply. Since its inception, Comic Relief has brought clean drinking water to 52,000 people who were suffering the effects of a dirty water supply. Additionally, the charity has provided equipment that enables people in some of the poorest villages in Africa to build and maintain their own wells full of fresh water for drinking, cooking and bathing.

A Vision of a Poverty-Free World

Comic Relief founders, organisers and volunteers envision a world free of poverty, with a fresh water supply, healthy food sources and accessible medications and vaccinations for people in all countries around the globe. Red Nose Day and Sport Relief are 2 major U.K. fundraisers that help make up the overall efforts of Comic Relief to raise money to tackle the root causes of global poverty and social injustice. Celebrities get funny on TV at this year's Red Nose Day on March 15, and Sport Relief will return next year with more athletic challenges. Thus far, millions have been raised to improve lives in 70 countries throughout the world through the efforts of these fundraisers sponsored by Comic Relief.

To view details on how you can help please visit http://www.comicrelief.com/.