Raised: 44%
Target: £5,000.00
Raised so far: £2,176.91
Donate now

My story

 
Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me, Ben Willis, online.

The river Niger flows through one of the world's most challenging and least known areas. From its source in the highlands of Guinea, through Mali and Niger before finally entering the Atlantic in Nigeria, it embodies the spirit of West Africa: an orgin of identity, a source of income, a migratory route - in short a vital lifeline for many of the 100million who live within its reach.

But it is also under increasing pressure. For centuries the lifeblood of the region, the Niger is now at daily risk from pollution, encroaching desert and habitat destruction all resulting from human activity.

Together with photographer Daniel Norwood, and with support from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, I aim to follow the river from its source to its mouth. Our journey will in parts follow the routes taken by the first European explorers of the Niger, many of whom were sent to their eventual deaths in an attempt to solve the riddle of where the river began and ended. On the way we hope to document the changing face of the Niger and the daily struggle of communities whose wellbeing is inextricably linked with that of the river itself.

View our blog at http://blogs.bootsnall.com/nigerriverproject

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: Mercy Ships 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 us now!

Many thanks for your support.

Well done Ben! Looking forward to seeing you soon Donation by Andy Ali & James Nuttall 06/02/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Well done, not too far now! Donation by Patti 30/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

From those who missed the Coffee Morning Donation by Peter & Lis Holmes, Sadie Gould +others 14/01/07  

£70.00 + £19.74 Gift Aid

Sorry we couldn't get to the Coffee Morning. Well done everyone! Donation by Rhona & Robbie Tillard 10/01/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

For the Coffee Morning Donation by Liz Webb 08/01/07  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Everyone's hard work has paid off! We are all waiting for next exciting instalments. Good Luck! Donation by St Thomas 08/01/07  

£936.91 + £264.26 Gift Aid

Just in case I don't make the coffee morning on 6 Jan - keep going and good luck. Donation by Sally Vaughan 17/12/06  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Well Done and Good Luck! Donation by Michael & Ursula Parker 14/12/06  

£20.00

Happy Christmas. Paddle well. Look forward to seeing you back in the woods Donation by Bill and Sue 12/12/06  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

We hope it's all gone swimmingly, but without too much swimming! Donation by Rob and Nicki Grinham 30/11/06  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £2,176.91
  Offline donations: £0.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £597.08

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Find out how much it is and what we do for it.