2007. What a surprise to be able to 'Walk  the Great Wall of China' as a celebration of my 60th Birthday! Thanks to all of you who kept it a secret, donated so generously and are now following my progress to fitness, ready for May 2008! Thanks Alan for arranging and paying for it . I am glad you are coming with me, to encourage me along the way, keep me warm at night, as we sleep under canvas on the stony ground ! Thank you all so much for your love, care and generous donations, standing at £1,277.43 with Gift Aid added.This CMS Sponsored Challenge is aimed at raising money that will make huge changes to the lives of people in the darkest places. The sponsorship of course doesn't go towards my trip. The money raised by this particular expedition is to be directed  specifically to where CMS  operates in dangerous areas of the world, where people are persecuted and freedom of worship is restricted. You can read more about  CMS at www.cms-uk.org. New Year 2008. A nice gentle start to the exercise each day, over the Christmas break, by walking up Chellington Hill, just yards from our house, then a brisk walk around the village. Alan has accompanied me on this, but now that he's back at work, it's time for me to be disciplined and start swimming regularly as well. Total so far, including Gift Aid, £1,477. Week 1: 4.4 miles/day, hike - Warwick Town. Week 2: 5.3 miles/day, hike - Badby Northants . Week 3: 4.5 miles/day. Week 4: 3.4 miles/day (bad cold ). Week 5: 4.6 miles/day, 2 hikes - Castle Ashby and Weston Underwood. And still no swimming as yet ! February. Yesterday we had our Trailblazers/CMS training day. What! -5 degrees at night!! That will certainly be a challenge for me! The target sponsorship, CMS is hoping for from each individual, is higher than I first thought, so bravely(!) or foolhardily(!), I felt re-energised to raise the fundraising stakes even higher. Good to meet the other members of the team. Sponsorship so far £1,677 including Gift Aid. Week 1: 5.1 miles/day, 2 hikes - Glenn Miller Trail, Greensand Ridge. Week 2: 5.2 miles/day, 2 hikes - Preston Capes Northants , a Local Hike . Week 3: 2.5 miles/day , but I did go swimming with the grandchildren at the week-end. Week 4: 3 miles/day. I spent a lot of time on the computer preparing letters and a leaflet, to get more sponsorship; many  thanks to Wayne for his professional help with it .  March. Sponsorship so far £1,696 including Gift Aid. Week 1:  2.5miles/day, mini hike  - Ticehurst. Week 2: 3.8 miles /day, mini hike - Great Doddington. Week 3: 8.4 miles/day, 3 major hikes on the Isle of Wight in cold windy weather. Week 4: 2.8 miles/day. April.  Sponsorship so far £1,746 including Gift Aid.Week 1:  3.2 miles/day, hike on Greensand Ridge. Week 2: 4.3 miles/day, walks in South Wales with friends. Week 3: 2.6 miles/day - not too much time for walking this week as it had to be hard work in the garden instead, ready for our 'Open Garden'! Week 4: 3.9 miles/day and more work on the garden. May. Week 1: 4.8 miles/day. After sharing half the proceeds of our 'Open Garden'  with Alan the sponsorship including Gift Aid stands at £1,872. Week 2: up to £2,032 now.

We had superb walking along the Wall, much of it with very steep steps and to a large part along unrestored sections. At times the heights were dizzying along stretches that had crumbled away at the sides. We were apparently the only tour group allowed on one particular section of the wall; it eventually crumbled to just the red earth of the core before reaching a river valley. We trust that one day soon it will be restored, as there is plenty going on in China, with an air of frenetic activity. There had been a wooden crossing and fort at this point, but it had long since disappeared. Then it was up and running again on the other side and stretching upwards into the mountains.  

The views were awesome; hills and mountains stretching to the horizon.  The greenery was fresh and springlike and the weather varied from very cold at night to warm to hot to sunny to rainy, so we had to be prepared for all eventualities. We met local people in small hamlets just off the Wall and were invited into their houses, which was a great privilege. We camped in a tiny hamlet of less than a dozen houses, in someone's vegetable garden, as well as just yards from a public road, next to a river and under some trees  - it all felt very safe to be in China!

We didn't feel or know about the earthquake immediately as we were away from 'civilisation', but our hearts go out to the thousands who were affected. Back in Beijing, people were very active in the street: giving blood, high school students collecting money and getting people to send messages to the stricken area by communal notice boards or text. There was an outpouring of emotion not seen since the events of Tiananmen Square and yet allowed by the government. We were impressed by both China and The Great Wall.

See also www.justgiving.com/alanmoore1

Gwenda