A small group of friends and I are embarking on a very meaningful journey — a challenging charity walk from Wembley Stadium to the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford. This trek between two iconic landmarks - Wembley Stadium, the National Football stadium, known worldwide for hosting significant sporting and cultural events, symbolises unity, excellence and achievement, and the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford, which serves as the ceremonial hall of the University of Oxford, representing academic excellence and the aspirations of youth.

This walk is not just a physical challenge, but also a powerful statement of solidarity and support for the Batticaloa Underprivileged Development Society (BUDS) in the UK.

BUDS is a grassroots charity run by volunteers in the UK. It was founded 37 years ago by a group including doctors who moved to the UK from Sri Lanka and wanted to give back to help people in their home country, many of whom live below the poverty line. The charity works to help underprivileged children in Sri Lanka overcome barriers and realise their full potential. BUDS uses it’s funds to provide educational support, health clinics, and financial assistance to orphanages and also supporting families fostering orphans.

These children and their families have not only been affected by three decades of civil war, but also the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004 and the devastating Easter bombings in 2019. Additionally, economic turmoil, global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and geopolitical tensions have all left their mark on the wider community in Sri Lanka. Poverty rates have risen for the fourth year in a row, with 25.9% of the population living below in poverty in 2023. Labour force participation has declined (especially amongst women and in urban areas) due to the closure of small enterprises, leading many households to take on debt to provide food, health, and education.

The work that BUDS carries out is about giving children the chance to dream, learn, and thrive despite the adversities they face.

What started as a small outing for a couple of people has really gained momentum. We have decided to walk from Wembley Stadium to the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford, a short trail of 60 miles (97km) to be covered over 3 days. Some of us (Mohavishna Sabaratnam, Rikin Patel and Piyali Sarkar) will complete the entire distance, with Kuntal Dave Sheth, Patricia Haughton and other friends and colleagues joining us at different stages to help contribute to the walk and raising vital funds for this under-funded charity.

Each of the 3 stages will be roughly around 20 miles (32km) with the entire distance being completed over three consecutive days between the 19th and 21st of July 24.

Day 1 (19th July 24) - Wembley Stadium to Latimer (20 miles/32km)

Day 2 (20th July 24) - Latimer to Wheatley (30 miles/48km)

Day 3 (21st July 24) - Wheatley to Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford (10 miles/16km)

Every step we take will represent a stride towards rebuilding lives and restoring hope for those who desperately need our help. Join us in this cause, and together, let's walk the path of change. Your support will transform lives and help bring a new era of prosperity and peace for the underprivileged in Batticaloa. Let's make each step count!

Route map - https://www.komoot.com/collection/2816326/-let-s-make-each-step-count-towards-rebuilding-lives-and-restoring-hope