Thanks for taking the time to visit my Big Walk 2016 JustGiving page. More information about The Big Walk 2016 can be found at www.shef.ac.uk/big-walk

The Big Walk 2016 combines two key events - The Trans Pennine Trail and the One Day Walking Challenge.

Two teams of ten staff from the University walked over 120 miles from 12-17 June to Sheffield on the Trans Pennine Trail, one team from the west coast in Southport and the other from the east coast in Hornsea. They met in Tankersley, north of Sheffield on Day 5.

I was part of the One Day Challenge team of staff, students, alumni
and friends - I am a former member of staff at Sheffield University and still live in Sheffield, although I work in Manchester - who joined the TPT teams and walked the 18 miles back to the University campus the following day, Friday 17 June.

Funds raised through the Big Walk will be used to support refugee academics and students at the University, to demonstrate our solidarity with refugees and to show that refugees are welcome at the University and in our city. Sheffield University is a University of Sanctuary and this has been its tradition since it was founded. 

Funds raised through the Big Walk 2016 will be used in the following ways:

•              Supporting at-risk academics: The University has strong links with a number of programmes to support at-risk academics, including the Institute of International Education's Scholar Rescue Fund and the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA) -  a charity which helps academics in immediate danger, those forced into exile. Through these partnerships, the University of Sheffield can host academics, giving them a place of safety and the financial and practical help to continue their careers until such as time as they can return home.

•              Students seeking refuge or asylum: The University offers fully funded undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships for refugees including those seeking asylum in the UK. Throughout 2016 staff, alumni and friends of the University will be raising funds to increase this support.

Thank you for supporting the Big Walk 2016.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.