**Wow...what a beautiful and tiring day! We began the walk at 8am drenched in sunshine and returned 11 hours later at 7pm with a big sun awaiting us. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day, though the terrain was completely uneven and rockier/hillier/steeper than I anticipated. We walked along a bluebell lined path encountering cows, horses, sheep, lamb, and pheasants to the sound of birds chirping us on. The picturesque landscapes of the English countryside was a delight to walk through, and yet some moments we seemed to be in the thick of the woods squeezing our bodies between branches while hopping over protruding roots. By the 12km mark I felt my thighs straining, by the halfway mark blisters had begun to form and by 36km I was almost ready to call it a day. Luckily I did not have any serious damage (many gave up along the way and one girl in our group had her feet treated by the medic at the 36km mark) but I completed the entire 40km and have battlescars to prove it. I am still in considerable pain throughout my thighs, shoulders, ribs (probably from laughing so hard) and I'm walking helter skelter with my newly developed muscles. It was a humbling experience overall; the excruciating pain I was in reminded myself of why I participated in this walk as there are so many others who experience severe pain on a daily basis while I had brought this unto myself. It felt great walking for APCA on behalf of all of you who supported me and I'm confident that your financial support will really improve the lives of those suffering. If you haven't yet donated and would like to, there is still time as my page will be up for a few more months; the proceeds go directly to APCA and if you're a UK takpayer please reclaim giftaid so your donation is maximized. Pictures to follow very soon.. 

Thank you for taking the time to support my efforts (whether it be emotionally or fiscally!) and learning about the reason for this walk + the role of the APCA. On May 15th I will hike 40km in South Downs, a chalk downland area described by Rudyard Kipling as "Our blunt, bow-headed whale-backed Downs", once home to Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf, and Alfred Lord Tennyson. Poet Hilaire Belloc called the region "the great hills of the South Country", Algernon Charles Swinburne similarly described the South Downs as "the green smooth-swelling unending downs". William Henry Hudson noted "during the whole 53-three mile length from Beachy Head to Harting the ground never rises above a height of 850 feet, but we feel on top of the world".

I will walk in remembrance of Paulette Crowther, a landscape designer and loving mother who would have appreciated the beauty in all these poets' descriptions. Paulette Crowther died on April 5, 2010, at her home in New York City in the arms of her beloved children and my best friends Camille, Tristan, and Justine Almada. Paulette had been an inspiration to her children and to me; she possessed a scintillating soul that swelled with love and affection which extended far beyond her angelic frame.

When Paulette was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, her children sought the best possible care they can receive for her. They met with leading oncologists, alternative physicians, cancer coaches, nutritionists, acupuncturists, massage therapists; there was a wide array of options for Paulette to choose the right team of specialists who would help plan her course of action to battle her illness and provide her with a network of support, comfort, and medical care. These treatments prolonged her life and most importantly they enabled her to spend time with her children traveling to England and the French Alps. Her children have shared with me the important role that palliative care played in alleviating Paulette's suffering and enabling her to pursue her dreams; despite her illness Paulette enrolled at Columbia's Landscape Design Masters program and committed herself to her studies while undergoing treatment and working full time. Towards the end of her battle, the Visiting Nurse Service of NY hospice care was by Paulette's side offering compassionate comfort while addressing her physical needs and emotionally reaching out to her children. Hospice and palliative care was a very positive experience for the family during the most difficult moment of their lives. Paulette died gracefully as an angel and though she suffered at times, she was spared the most painful moments because she had access to painkiller medications and alternative therapies. It is discomforting to comprehend the numerous patients in Africa also fighting cancer, AIDS, or other  illnesses without access to medications or palliative care. By participating in this walk I hope to enrich the lives of those who are fighting similar fights and improve their quality of living so that they too can maximize time spent with their children, family members, loved ones, and friends. While walking along the grasslands of South Downs taking in all the natural beauty, I will have Paulette in my heart and truly feel her presence on top of the world.


Thanks so much for your support.



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