** CHALLENGE COMPLETE **
Been there, done it, got the t-shirt! Literally!
Can't quite believe it - we really were there; I've 181 photos to prove it! It was everything and more than I expected. A once in a lifetime challenge. A brilliant trip, with brilliant memories, brilliant people and brilliant organisation - and all for a good cause to boot. Again, huge thanks to everyone who has supported me and to all those still donating!
Emma 27/11/06

** 08/11/06 - target exceeded ***
Well there you have it - 3 days until departure and you've all helped me to exceed the fundraising target. And not all the money's in yet either. How amazing is that?! I can't express my thanks enough to everyone who's helped me. It's been a long, and at times arduous, journey. Now all that's left to do is the actual walking. I'd now just like to say I shall never do anything like this again - but don't regret for a minute taking on the challenge in the first place.
GOOD LUCK in NEW YORK LORNA!

** 24/10/06 - just 17 days until we fly **
Just £83.31 left until that magic final target is reached (unofficially - I haven't sent the cheque off yet!). Did my final big event on Sunday, a local CD & record fair. The raffle raised the most money! Still, it was more than I had at the start of the day. There's some on the sponsorship forms to count up and I've still got two collecting tins lurking at Magical Moments and Francesco's. It looks like I might actually fulfill my personal wish of raising all the funds before we go. :)

** Update 21/09/06 **
Just paid in another £256... I knew the last stages of the fund-raising would be the hardest. Ideas are thin on the ground now - and I'm definitely a known face at all the local car boot sales! Still, just £323 until that final target; that's only 10% of the final total. Before we go there's another 4 car boot sales I can do, a CD and record fair at Buxton Pavillion Gardens in October and my neighbours are returning full Smartie tubes to me as well. With just 7 weeks to departure, I might just fulfill my personal wish of raising all the money before we go... Oh yes, and That's all fitting around the very intense training regime!

** Still here… 08/09/06 **
Yup, still, here, still going strong (just), still car-booting, still Smartie-ing people and just 9 weeks to departure. Not sure if I’m still sane though… 

** NEWSFLASH 21/08/06 **
80% target reached! And 2 weeks early! Huge thanks to Vivienne B (middle sis!) and colleagues at the A63 McAlpine site office. Also thanks to Magical Moments in Buxton, personal sponsors and all those still handing in stray Smartie tubes.

In November of this year I will be embarking on a trip of a lifetime to the South Island of New Zealand where I’ll be trekking up hill and down dale for The Children's Society. The route takes in magnificent locations where films such as Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia were shot. To get there I need to raise £3200. And this is where you come in. I'd be dead chuffed if you could please dig deep and sponsor me online.

Why am I doing the Trek?
Having seen the training program I’m asking myself the same question! It’s actually my friend Lorna’s fault. Back in January she spotted an advert for the Trek in a magazine, rang me up and said ‘d’ya fancy it?’. ‘Yeah, alright then.’ I replied. As it turns out Lorna’s actually walking New York rather than trekking New Zealand (must have a word with her about her geography)… but in all seriousness it’s about doing something for someone else. When I was growing up my mum was very ill, and I experienced first hand just some of the difficulties faced by struggling children today. If by doing this trek I can help another child then every aching muscle, every car-boot sale, every penny you give will be worth it.

A little bit about The Children's Society:
The Society is the fourth largest children's charity in the UK, with over 100 projects throughout England and Wales. The Society works with some of the country's most vulnerable children and young people: on the streets, in communities, in schools, with families and in prisons. It aims to be a positive force for change wherever young lives are damaged by unnecessary suffering and injustice. The sponsorship we raise will help in a variety of ways; e.g. £10 pays for two 'Stick with It' packs for children who are having difficulty coping at school, £15 pays for a disabled child to visit the seaside in a specially equipped vehicle, £50 pays for a project worker to spend 3 hours giving practical help to a young refugee and £1000 would fund group work with 10 children coping with the trauma of looking after parents who abuse drugs or alcohol. 

So thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Every penny helps.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Children's Society will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks for your support.  

Emma

ps - if you'd like to make a donation towards Lorna's Walk New York target please go to www.justgiving.com/lornawilliamson