Each year millions of people make journeys across water. For most of us this passage is safe however for many it is not. Every day, those fleeing persecution and conflict need to make perilous journeys to seek safety. This year, as a way to stand with people who need to make dangerous journeys, Freedom from Torture North London Supporters Group, is hosting a fund raising challenge.Freedom from Torture is a charity, which for 30 years has provided therapeutic, medical and legal support for survivors of torture. https://www.freedomfromtorture.org/

I have  known about this wonderful organisation for some time and have recently become involved in supporting them....I'm very impressed by their work, their vision, their commitment -  and most of all by the resilience of their clients.

As part of this Fundraiser, we have set ourselves the challenge of planning and walking a route over 21 of London's Bridges between Teddington Lock (NB Slight change of route: we start at Richmond Bridge, which, it turns out, is much easier to access by public transport than Teddington Lock! It shortens the route but creates the nice symbolism of 21 bridges and almost exactly 21 miles) and Tower Bridge, roughly 24 miles, learning about their history along the way and with luck raising £600 or more for Freedom from Torture!

Please sponsor - no matter how much or how little, it's supporting really important work.

And of course, anyone who fancies joining me for a longish walk and getting themselves sponsored too,  just let me know!....

The date is set: 17th September for one group - another group will confirm their chosen date soon.......we expect the walk to take all day(!) and will keep you posted.....

17th September team members so far are: WENDY WEINSTOCK, FARQUHAR MCKAY, LOUISE HUDSON, MARTHA WRIGHT, MIRIAM WRIGHT, JIM BEDFORD and ME. Others will probably join us but haven't confirmed yet.....

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Challenge completed yesterday evening - 17th September (it took us 10.5 hours!)

The full team: WENDY WEINSTOCK, FARQUHAR MCKAY, LOUISE WRIGHT, MARTHA OAKES, MIRIAM WRIGHT, JIM BEDFORD-ROBERTS, SIAN MCGILLIGAN, NICKI BARNES and ME!

Thank you VERY much to all you wonderful people who sponsored us - and to all the walkers themselves! It is great to see so many people supporting Freedom from Torture!

(I'll put up some photos later in the day!)

PS There is still plenty of time to sponsor us if you haven't already!