<p><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The <a href="http://www.tgochallenge.co.uk" target="_blank">TGO Challenge</a> is a non-competitive, self-supported trek across Scotland.&nbsp; &ldquo;Challengers&rdquo; start on the west coast from a choice of 12 locations, aiming to finish on the east coast within a two week period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Challengers plan their own route and itinerary, and the Challenge is usually restricted to around 300 participants for environmental purposes.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">I will be leaving Mallaig on Friday 13th May and spending 14 days walking to St. Cyrus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The total distance is just shy of 200 miles and I will be walking an average of 14 miles per day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Most nights I will be wild camping, carrying everything I need in my rucksack.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">As part of the event I am taking the opportunity to raise money for <a href="http://www.abaana.org/" target="_blank">Abaana</a>, who work for the benefit of less privileged people in Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The word "Abaana" comes from a language found in the country of Uganda and means "children.&rdquo;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">I really hope you will take the opportunity to support this charity and help to make a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I have fully funded the trip myself, so any money raised will go directly to Abaana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; Please take a moment to think about the following:</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">If we could reduce the whole human race to 10 children sitting around a table:</span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">3 would have plates that are heaped so high that they will never possibly finish what is there. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">2 will just about manage to live by scavenging what is thrown away from the three. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">3 will be permanently hungry. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">2 will die, one of dysentery and one of pneumonia.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Remember, we are represented by the 3 children with the plates heaped so high we will never possibly finish what is there! &nbsp;What are we going to do about the other 7 children?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thanks, Jonathan</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>You can follow my progress through <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jonpttrson" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and my <a href="http://www.jonpatterson.co.uk" target="_blank">blog</a>.</em></p>