Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online.
I'm now back from riding my spotted horse Leo to Rome in memory of my mother, Dickie Pares, who was struck down by Alzheimer's after a lifetime as an independent spirit, and who died 18 months ago. She was a great traveller and writer of horsy books, and I've inherited her itchy feet and her love of words - Leo and I completed our first long journey together in 2002 when we followed the pilgrimage route of the Way of St James from Canterbury to Santiago de Compostela, with my sister, her horse and my husband Peter, and then I wrote a book about the trip. The scallop shell sewn on my hat in the photo is the emblem of St James.
This time I rode alone although Peter, as before, drove Bessie the elderly Bedford lorry for us to sleep in.
It was an amazing trip and the toughest thing I've ever done. We were in the mountains for 500 miles, crossing the Jura, the Alps and then the Appenines, and in Italy the temperature reached 46 degrees with 100% humidity ... only mad horses and Englishwomen went out in that! And there were appalling storms, mosquitoes and lethal horseflies with psychedelic green eyes. But there were amazing highs too, such as finding rare bee orchids growing beside the bicycle route from Givry to Macon; rounding a corner in the Alps to see Mont Blanc rearing up ahead of us; riding round Lucca on the mediaeval city wall, and arriving in Rome (on 18th August) and riding right into St. Peter's Square after a mile tiptoeing down a one way street in the wrong direction! Leo was a star, never flinching at anything from lightning smacking into the ground 100 yards away (which certainly scared me!) to HGVs rumbling past so close they almost touched my stirrup. My husband Peter was also a star, nursing Bessie the Bedford through the Alps and down the other side via 37 hairpin bends, which caused Bessie's brakes to smoke so much that they took 3 hours to cool down!
So now I hope lots of you will donate through this site, which is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Alzheimer'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! The distance from Canterbury to Rome, zigzagging through the mountains, was a good 1400 miles and you could, for example, sponsor Leo and me for a penny a mile ... or for as much as you like!
Many thanks for your support.
Mefo
Raised:
29%
Raised so far: £2,955.50
|
Well done and hope it wasn't too strenuous Donation by Andy Smith on 23/10/06 |
£72.50 + £20.45 Gift Aid |
|
|
good luck Donation by James Bryant on 20/10/06 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
|
|
Donation by mark and margaret knight on 22/09/06 |
£250.00 + £70.51 Gift Aid |
|
|
Donation by JOANNE on 30/08/06 |
£20.00 |
|
|
Well done! Hope to see you at the festival in November. Donation by John Prebble on 21/08/06 |
£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid |
|
|
Way to go!!! Donation by Gemka on 14/08/06 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
|
|
Nearly there! Don't worry - I'll clean the house before you get back : ) Donation by Clara on 13/08/06 |
£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid |
|
|
Best of luck, I will look forward to the next book. With best wishes to you and your wonderful Leo. Donation by A Horseshoes & Holy Water fan on 30/07/06 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
|
|
Bon Voyage Mum, Leo & Peter - good luck! Donation by Oliver on 27/05/06 |
£80.00 |
|
|
I'll do you if you do me raceforlifesonsorme.org/JackieHammond. Thanks Donation by Jackie on 17/05/06 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
|
|
Good luck Mefo! Donation by Flick on 06/05/06 |
£100.00 |
|
|
Donation by Chris Harding on 03/05/06 |
£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid |
|
|
Wishing you the best of luck Mefo. Best wishes. Claire Donation by Claire Palmer on 02/05/06 |
£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid |
|
|
Good Luck and have a good trip Donation by Fiona Edington on 02/05/06 |
£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid |
|
|
Bon voyage and happy riding! Donation by Anonymous on 29/04/06 |
£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid |
|
|
Best of Luck to you both, Take care! Donation by Christina Caffyn on 21/04/06 |
£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid |
|
|
Donation by Matt on 13/04/06 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
|
|
Have a great time! Donation by Margi Rose on 11/04/06 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
|
|
Donation by roogriff on 07/04/06 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
|
|
Donation by anonymous on 07/04/06 |
£50.00 |
|
|
Good luck, Mum & P! Donation by Clara on 07/04/06 |
£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid |
|
|
Divertiti! Donation by Kate on 30/03/06 |
£120.00 + £33.85 Gift Aid |
|
|
Godspeed on your Grand Tour, Mefo! Donation by Richard Cross on 23/03/06 |
£120.00 + £33.85 Gift Aid |
|
|
No fields now for Leo to visit Donation by William on 17/03/06 |
£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid |
|
|
Every good wish for such super & worthwile project Donation by Olga Danes-Volkov on 13/03/06 |
£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid |
| * Total raised online: | £1,542.50 |
|---|---|
| Offline donations: | £1,413.00 |
| Mobile donations: | £0.00 |
| Total Raised: | £2,955.50 |
| Gift Aid plus supplement: | £364.55 |
* Charities pay a small fee for our service.
Find out
how much it is and what we do for it.