In rural Africa, people living in poverty often walk great distances to obtain essentials such as food, water, medicine or work. They do not do this out of choice, but out of necessity.
On Saturday 2nd October, Wendy Hamilton and Ian Boyd-Livingston will walk a long distance out of choice, to raise money in support of poverty reduction in Africa. The charity we are raising money for is Arcubus; the walk is Saint Swithun’s Way.
Arcubus, the City of London Social Investment Fund, aims to raise £1 million to support microfinance initiatives in Africa. Microfinance is the provision of financial services to those living below the poverty line, excluded from the mainstream; the “unbanked” population. Microfinance enables people living in poverty to build a future for themselves and their families, to achieve a sustainable income and to reduce their vulnerability. It can empower them to plot a course out of poverty, for good. You can read more about Arcubus on the website, at http://www.arcubus.org.uk.
Saint Swithun’s Way follows the route of the pilgrims trail between Farnham and Winchester Cathedral, where the remains of Saint Swithun lie. We shall walk the route of 54 kilometres in each direction. This plus the walk from and to our base camp will make a total distance of 112 kilometres, or 70 miles. From the start, just before dawn on Saturday morning, we shall keep going until we complete the distance.
It's a serious cause and a serious challenge but we hope to have some fun as well as blisters! The route passes through some of the most beautiful countryside that Hampshire has to offer as well as many historical landmarks. Saint Swithun's Way is one of the notable long distance walks in Britain; you can read more about the route and its history on the county council website, at http://www3.hants.gov.uk/longdistance/st-swithuns-way.htm.
Who are Wendy and Ian, to take this on? Untrained at walking such a long distance, is who. Wendy Hamilton is taking a sabbatical from the City to help the development of a microfinance institution in the Dominican Republic. Before departing these shores she has been determined to add a significant sponsorship challenge to her list of achievements which includes climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Ian Boyd-Livingston is a trustee of Arcubus, a passionate supporter of its aims and naturally keen to encourage Wendy, although he believed it would be from the sidelines...!
Clearly your support is needed so please give generously! Don't worry about donating per mile; finishing early is not an option (...pause while reality of that statement sinks in!). £20 makes a significant, sustainable difference to the life of someone living in poverty in Africa; the greater the amount, the greater that difference.
Arcubus uses the Charities Aid Foundation to receive donations. It isn't as slick as some online fundraising sites and it doesn't like Safari (so if, like me, you are an iPhone/iPad user make haste to another browser!). Excuses, excuses, but your perseverence will bring you spiritually much closer to our toil across 70 miles. Or something. Please take a deep breath, and:
1. Click on "Sponsor our Walk for Africa" at the bottom of this page and you will be taken to the CAF online website
2. Click on "Make a Donation" to begin a short procedure that will allow you to donate by credit or debit card and, if you are a UK taxpayer, to apply Gift Aid to your donation. If you're not in the UK you can still donate using a credit card; donations will be denominated in GBP.
3. Please type "Walk for Africa" in the box that allows you to pass instructions to the charity. This means we can track your donation and respond to you directly, which we would very much like to do, to tell you about the progress of Arcubus and the impact that your donation has made.
THANK YOU!
2 October 2010: A 112km walk in aid of Arcubus, the City of London Social Investment Fund.
Raising £1m for microfinance programmes in Africa.
