Imagine your child or grandchild is seriously ill. Then imagine the nearest clinic is 13.5 miles away on dirt tracks and you are without access to a car. You may have to resort to taking them for treatment on the back of a bicycle, if you’re fortunate enough to have one, or making the long journey on foot, unless Hands at Work is able to help by paying for a taxi. This is the reality of life in the isolated community of Mutaba in rural Zambia.

In May I will walk one of my favourite walks, St. Cuthbert’s Way. This runs from Melrose in the Scottish Borders to Holy Island off the Northumberland coast. At 100km it is a much shorter walk than my previous sponsored walks. However, the distance is the rough equivalent of two round trips with a sick child from Mutaba to the nearest clinic. As a consequence, my trek feels as much an act of solidarity, as a fundraising enterprise.

The money raised will go towards providing what we call in Hands at Work, the 3 Essential Services of food, education and healthcare for 125 of the most vulnerable children in this community. Mutaba is in an area particularly prone to diseases such as malaria, and so anything that helps build the resilience of the children, is vital. Through the Hands at Work Care Point and the efforts of 22 amazing volunteer Care Workers headed up by the Coordinator, Christopher, children are provided with a daily hot, nutritious meal. They also receive support with their education and their health and wellbeing, (this element includes paying for taxis to transport sick children). The Care Workers know each of the children and regularly visit them in their homes, to better support and care for them. In making these Holy Home Visits, they again cover huge distances on foot, in this very scattered and isolated rural community.

Jane and I were able to visit Mutaba last year and hope to do so again in July. We have been able to see for ourselves the difference your donations to Mutaba Miles will make and the enormous encouragement that your support will give to the Care Workers.

Any support you can give will therefore be a great encouragement!

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