At my school, the Year 8 pupils are expected to organise a
personal challenge to support a subject they feel passionate about. The
inspiration for this challenge came from Mr Kirby, one of my school’s now retired teachers whose expeditions remain legend!

For my Kirby Challenge, I'm going to cycle 500km by the end of term and hold a pupils v staff sponsored cricket match if school opens again before the end of term.

All funds raised will go to the Railway Children Charity
which supports street children across the world.

I have chosen this charity because when I visited Bombay
earlier this year to see family, I was shocked by the conditions of the slums for the people who live there. It is impossible to explain in words until you see it – no matter what anyone tells you. If I accomplish nothing more than raising awareness that over 11 million children live on the streets in India, it will feel worthwhile.

Many children run away from their families to seek a better
life using the railway networks to help them escape. However, when the
children arrive on the platforms, they find themselves trapped once again and are forced to live on the platforms or move to nearby slums. Railway Children set up booths on platforms to help those who are vulnerable and at risk.

By doing this, Railway Children are trying to reduce the
number of children moving to the slums or living on the platforms where they are vulnerable to exploitation and dangerous situations. They bring the children into their care facilities where they are given food, education and medicine if required. If possible, Railway Children will try to get the children back to their families and if that is not possible they will keep them safe in their care homes.

Thank you for taking time to visit my JustGiving page and for donating if you can. If you are ever able to, please visit a slum, a station network or go on a train journey in India, as seeing the situation first-hand can only give the start of an explanation.

Miles