Thanks for taking the time to visit my Big Walk 2016 JustGiving page. More information about The Big Walk 2016 can be found at www.shef.ac.uk/big-walk

The Big Walk 2016 combines two key events - The Trans Pennine Trail and the One Day Walking Challenge.  2 teams of 10 staff from the University will each be walking over 120 miles from 12-17 June to Sheffield on the TransPennine Trail, one team from the west coast in Southport and the other from the east coast in Hornsea. They will meet in Tankersley, north of Sheffield on Day 5.

I will be part of the One Day Challenge team of staff, students, alumni and friends who will join the TPT teams and walk the 18 miles back to the University campus the following day, Friday 17 June.  I was brought up to believe that how we as individuals and as communities respond to the plight of those who flee their homes in the face of war, persecution or natural disasters is one of the most important measures of our humanity.  The University of Sheffield is committed to making a significant contribution and as a former member of staff, an alumna and a current research student, I want to be part of that.

Funds raised through the Big Walk will be used to support refugee academics and students at the University, to demonstrate our solidarity with refugees and to show that refugees are welcome at our University and in our city. Our University is a University of Sanctuary and this has been our tradition since this institution was founded.

Funds raised through the Big Walk 2016 will be used in the following ways:

·    Supporting at-risk academics: We have strong links with a number of programmes to support at-risk academics, including the Institute of International Education's Scholar Rescue Fund and the Council for
At-Risk Academics (CARA) - a charity which helps academics in immediate danger, those forced into exile. Through these partnerships, the University of Sheffield can host academics, giving them a place of safety and the financial and practical help to continue their careers until such as time as they can return home.

·    Students seeking refuge or asylum: The University offers fully funded undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships for refugees including those seeking asylum in the UK. Throughout 2016 we will be raising funds to increase this support.

Thank you for supporting the Big Walk 2016.

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