Last summer four of us climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and fundraised for the School of St Jude as part of the adventure. Little did we realise the impact the school would have on our lives and whilst we were visiting, we made a commitment to continue fundraising once we returned home. In actual fact we have promised to sponsor the education of three students at the school, Ziporah, Fahia and Kelvin for the next 10 years to see them to the end of their secondary education. We visited Kelvin and Fahia's homes while we were there. You know on Comic Relief when the celebrity visits a child's home and comes out in tears, struck by the poverty and unfairness that life can bring? Well we had the same emotions without the celebrity status. They are remarkable young people and the school is incredible as it takes the poorest but brightest children from the local community and gives them the highest quality free education that they could possibly have. In the process, by educating one child, the family in turn is lifted out of poverty and lives are changed.
My next crazy challenge is the Ipswich half-marathon, because in a moment of madness I thought it would be a good idea!! If the children can walk for over 2 hours for the chance to attend the School of St Jude, then I figured I can drag my weary bones over 13 miles around the streets of Ipswich.