Hello all,

OK, let's be honest, this is not an awesome physical challenge that I am taking on, but that's not really the point.  The idea is to symbolise the fact that many women in poverty-stricken rural India have to walk 7 miles or more a day to get water for their family and themselves.

To coin an oft use phrase in these sort of messages, we are trying to "raise the profile" of poverty in India as this is largely overlooked by the mainstream charities, who focus heavily on Africa.  While there is indeed greater wealth in urban India, the problems of both urban and particularly rural poverty are easily as acute.

Jeevika Trust may only be a small organisation but it has a wide-ranging impact.  The money raised at last year’s Walks for Water in the UK and France meant that 970 families, that’s nearly 6800 people, no longer have to walk for several hours a day to collect water.  They can now collect safe water for their daily needs from a traditional rainwater-harvesting system just outside their villages. 

I appreciate that nowadays we tend to get about 50 sponsorship requests a day, so I am not asking for anyone to break the bank, especially during the crunch.  Any donation will be appreciated, from £1.00 upwards.

 

Thanks,

JB