Thank you so much for visiting my fundraising page. Your first step in making a huge difference in the world has been taken. You can also reach me at mark.satterthwaite@ntlworld.com

Please note that I need to raise £2,160 of my Target by 15th July PRIOR to the Trek!

Reaching 19 million people worldwide, ActionAid prioritise their work into six key themes. (i) HIV & Aids (ii) Food & Hunger (iii) Womens rights (iv) The right to Education (v) The right to human security and (vi) The right to just Governance.

I have been working with ActionAid since 2002 after taking part in the Fundraising 'China Trek 2002', a 10 day trek across some remote parts of China including the great wall.

In September 2006 I will be undertaking a new challenge with a series of fundraising activities in the build up to this years 10 day "Footsteps of the Maasai Trek" in the remote Rift Valley region of Kenya/Tanzania, to be led by Maasai Tribesmen. This will be to raise funds to fight the extreme poverty in this area as well as address the increasing problem of HIV & Aids.

During the Trek we will be taken to visit the ActionAid supported grass roots community-based KENWA project, giving us a chance to witness first hand the work being done in one of the worst slums in East-Africa. The climate will be very hot and dry and as there is a drought water for washing (considered a Luxury) will be scarce!

There is a deepening food crisis in Kenya brought about by the worst drought since 2000. This crisis means that people signing up to the trek are more important than ever, at a time when Africa is crying out for tourism to fund ongoing relief work.

Whilst in Africa, as with the China-Trek I shall be chaperoning my Mother who has been a long-standing supporter of Actionaid for many years. (www.justgiving.com/francess)

I am maintaing a video-diary of all my preparation and fundraising activities, to include the trek and anyone donating £50 or more online may receive a free copy of the final video-diary in DVD upon request. 

I am a Black Belt in Jeet Kune Do ("JKD") and in the run up to the Trek, I wll be literally FIGHTING against poverty and injustice by competing in a 'Call2Arms' Full Contact Low Armour Stick Fighting event in April and a White Collar Boxing event in July/August, amongst other fighting competitions to be confirmed. I will also be taking part in this years 'Toughguy' race and a 7's Rugby tournament. All aimed at raising funds for this cause.

I urge you to PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE dig deep and sponsor me online and help me to help ActionAid stamp out poverty and the many consequences of it.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: ActionAid 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, that's an incredible amount i'm sure you'll agree.

So please, DON'T DELAY - SPONSER ME TODAY and join me making 2006 a year to truely FIGHT against poverty and injustice

Many thanks for your support and please tell as many friends and family as you can to help me reach my goal and beyond.

UPDATE 03/04/2006: I am pleased to report that yesterday I took part in the www.call2arms.co.uk Low-Armour stick fighting event in Luton. The organisers were very supportive of my fundrasing efforts. I am still in one piece (just) with a nice set of bruises and I hope I have raised further awareness of this cause with some of my Fellow Martial Arts students. After what I went through yesterday however I'm going to need many more donations before competing in my next fighting competition!!!

UPDATE 30/04/2006: Please note that ActionAid have changed the date of the Trek to now commence on 15th September 2006 to the 24th September 2006.

UPDATE 06/05/2006: Successful Race-Night completed last night in Letchworth, helping to raise another £1k which has been shared between my Mother and I.

UPDATE 05/06/2006: Just returned from an enjoyable weekend of sports, having competed in the corporate games Rugby7's tournament in Swindon. Great weekend spent with the guys and thanks go to Jay, Adam, Little Rich, Dunc, Malc, Dean, Derek and Stu for all their efforts on and off the pitch. Thoughts go out to the poor guy who broke his leg playing against us. Raised some hell - raised some eyebrows but more importantly - raised some more money!

LATEST UPDATE 03/07/2006: Just returned from the Inosanto Weekend Martial Arts Seminar in London. (Dan's 70th Birthday seminar!) A few extra chances to raise further funds and awareness amongst the community. Not to mention a good training weekend in preparationfor the Trek in September. (Managed to complete the weekend despite; Torn Maniscus Cartiledge and Medial Ligaments in left knee and Broken Knuckle in Right Hand!!!)