In memory of Rob Gauntlett and James Atkinson.
Supporting Nalango Secondary,Uganda; and Christ's Hospital, Sussex:
Please make donations through any of the individual pages below.
In 2009, Rob Gauntlett and James Atkinson tragically died in the Alps. Two brilliant lives cut short - adventurers, educators, and the best friends and family we could all have asked for - truly an inspiration to so many. Four years later, and we lost two more inspiring friends, in Jack Hutton-Potts and Vaughan Holme, to whom One Mile Closer meant so much.
Six months after the funeral, as Rob and James would have wanted, we decided some good should come of it all. So we rode from John O' Groat's to Land's End - a ride that Rob and James had both enjoyed themselves. 1000 miles of freedom and fresh air on the roads, and an epic achievement from many who had never cycled before. Three years later, in 2012, 35 riders rode from Provence to Sussex via the summit of the fabled Mont Ventoux.
In 2014, our attentions turn further eastwards: we shall pedal One Mile Closer (http://onemilecloser.com/), from Prague to Sussex, seeking out once again the wonder of the wind and the hills, and, once again, Rob and James' inspiration:
At Rob’s school at Nalango Secondary in Uganda, we have funded 5 classrooms; 12 latrines; staffroom, offices and 4 teachers’ houses; land purchase; desks, textbooks, water tanks and science equipment. With 540 pupils, the school is growing fast – the Gauntlett family, Kay and myself have all spent time at the school recently, and have been inspired by the progress that is being made under headmaster Paul Kasadha.
At Nalango, £8,000 will buy 2 classrooms, £5,000 a dormitory, £1,250 a 20,000l water tank, and donations from £20 to £2,000 can fund desks, textbooks or laboratory equipment, £250-£750 for solar panels, and £400 will buy a package of much needed sports or music equipment.
At Christ’s Hospital, the James Atkinson Bequest has enabled a number of children to be able to undertake Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, as well as geography field trips who would otherwise be unable to go due to financial constraints. The bequest has also made donations to a few needy pupils to enable them to go on a climbing trip to Corsica and also to go trekking in Nepal. We have received many letters of thanks from pupils who have found the experiences very worthwhile and have risen to challenges that these trips presented. In addition to financing outdoor pursuits, the bequest provides an annual prize to the pupil who has most shown aptitude and commitment to outdoor pursuits during the year.
I hope you find as much joy as us in the trip: Many thanks as ever for your support.
