Well – we did it!

The pain excruciating at times, braving one step at a time before the will breaks is what gets you through.  But when things seemed at their most desperate thankfully help did arrive.

Meanwhile back in the UK, I went on a run on a sunny day with my new trainers, Garmin watch and headphones, and all the support I needed throughout.  I’m not going to pretend it didn’t hurt, but although it seemed a long way off I knew there was an end to it – unlike Sushil and Kusum.  

When 11-year-old Sushil’s mother eloped in 2016 leaving him destitute, he went to Kathmandu to find work and ended up in a metalwork factory where he polished statues from 5am to 10pm without pay, often scorching himself with the acid, as well as having to fetch water and cook food for the family.  He said he didn’t think of leaving because “at least I had shelter and food each day”.  After rescuing Sushil, Child Rescue Nepal tracked down and assessed his brother and sister-in-law, with whom Sushil now lives.  CRN is providing a full support package that includes a bed, winter clothes and a tutor, as well as ongoing monitoring and support while Sushil continues his recovery.  

Kusum was 12 years old when her mother went to work in the Middle East.  As her alcoholic father was unable to look after her, Kusum went to live with her maternal aunt.  When the aunt opened a snack shop, Kusum was forced to drop out of school to help out.  This meant cleaning and washing up until her aunt started arranging for customers to abuse Kusum for extra income.  A neighbour alerted one of CRN’s local arms who rescued Kusum and brought her to a safe house where she is now being cared for.  CRN is in currently touch with her mother in the hope that eventually Kusum will be able to live with her again. 

Not the quickest of finish times, but cross the line I did, with The Greatest Showman’s “Rewrite the stars” playing and the smiling faces of my family awaiting me.  So, thank you – your kind donations since June formed part of the funding that made the rescue and subsequent care of Sushil and Kusum possible, and will help rewrite the stars for someone else’s little boys and girls in Nepal, reunite them with their families and, hopefully, start to rebuild smiles on their faces.

All the very best,

Hadleigh   

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Loathe as I am to admit it, getting in shape and tackling a marathon in my mid-forties may well be beyond me.  A few training runs to test the water only resulted in a torn calf muscle and 4-6 weeks off games.  The idea did at least give some of those closest to me an evening's amusement...

But in November I will be travelling to Kathmandu and the surrounding area to visit some of Child Rescue Nepal's safe houses and support their work.  The charity estimates it has rescued only 700 of an estimated 100,000 children in slavery in Nepal to reunite them with their families and keep them safe in the meantime.

Which sort of puts my reservations in the face of a challenge and potential discomfort into perspective...

So I will be crossing 38 miles of the North and South Downs on 7 October to raise money for Child Rescue Nepal, even if I have to crawl over the finishing line.  If you would like to help me support this wholly worthwhile cause by making a donation - and in doing so increase my (probably well-founded) fear of failure to the point it is not an option - that would be very much appreciated.  

Part of the intent is the insight gained in Nepal will better equip me to support efforts to tackle similar problems in the UK.  Nepal's 100,000 number is frightening enough - the global figure is estimated at 5.5 million...

Any help from you could make that difference - if even one more little boy or girl is intercepted as a result it will have been worth it. 

Please visit www.childrescuenepal.org to find out more about the charity's efforts to fight child trafficking in Nepal.  

A heartfelt thank you in advance for your support.

Hadleigh