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My story

I’m taking on the challenge of (1) 70K in May for Christian Aid and (2) a mile a day in May for the RNLI, to run concurrently

Why? (1) to help people push back against poverty. Did you know, malnourishment and poverty affect more than 70% of people in Burundi?

(2) to support the amazing RNLI volunteers as they celebrate 200 years of the service

Christian Aid are working to empower families in Burundi to build reliable and diverse incomes. Take Aline, for example. She found a lifeline in Christian Aid after she felt the full force of extreme poverty, when an early marriage ended in abuse and violence. CA helped her with small business training and she set up as a grocery wholesaler. Today, Aline can afford food, clothes, and essential healthcare for her family.

There’s more people Christian Aid could reach – and that’s why I’m fundraising and taking part in 70k in May - but my target is 200k = 125 miles.

The money raised can help ensure more people get the skills and knowledge they need to fulfil their hopes and ambitions.  £10 could provide one person with the training that supports their family to set up a small business, such as selling home-grown vegetables.

Training also features for RNLI - of the lifeboat crews, of beach lifeguards and of the general public in safety at the coast and coping with emergencies :

https://fundraise.rnli.org/fundraisers/lesleywilliams/mayday-mile

Together we can make a lasting difference.  Thank you for your support for one or both my challenges! !


Updates

14
Christian Aid
4 months ago
Activity closed!

The activity was closed

Christian Aid
4 months 2 weeks ago
Target reached!

Congratulations! This activity has reached its target of £250.00

Lesley Williams
4 months 3 weeks ago
Fundraising target hit

the site doesn't say so but with the Gift Aid added from the people who have signed the sponsorship form and paid me cash, which is then paid in on here but without gift aiding because it's not my money, I'll have easily topped £250 

I estimate an extra £25  

Christian Aid
5 months ago
75% of target reached!

Congratulations! This activity has reached 75% of its target!

Lesley Williams
5 months ago
Fundraising

I've £150 in cash - mainly from church - which I'll pay into this page  - that will cheer it up 

Lesley Williams
5 months ago
31st May - done and dusted

I wish I'd had time for another road trip but finished with a Cowley circuit. The final walked RNLI Mayday mile was fittingly by water,  along the Thames towpath from Donnington bridge to Iffley. 

Total  cycled and walked (with maths to check) was 333* miles = 536 km. I'm now hoping to raise the sponsorship totals for both charities  

* but somewhat dismayed to realise that in May 2023, I achieved 525 miles for Transform Trade - but I am a year older!  

Lesley Williams
5 months ago
Penultimate day - and made it....

meal delivery - walked 1.2, cycled 11.46 so 317 miles covered (I'd better check the maths) and one day to add some more 

and hoping for more sponsorship 

Lesley Williams
5 months ago
Countdown : 2 days to go, 7 miles...

.....  but I'll better that, having realised that in 2023, I cycled over 500 miles (rather than km) in May for Transform Trade 

I have lots of promised sponsorship to add

Lesley Williams
5 months ago
Count down : 3 days, 19 miles to go

meal delivery and to town for a hearing check.....walked 1 mile and cycled 19.60

Lesley Williams
5 months 1 week ago
10-26 May catch up

oops! so much for a daily report....  

I don't think I'll now provide the full daily details - just totals so far, with 5 days to go 

I've walked &/or cycled every day of May except last Wednesday 22 May, when I wimped out because of heavy rain - I'd planned to cycle to Headington for a Barton community meeting and OCMS steward duty and thence straight to the Vue cinema for a ROH live Royal Ballet streaming  - but I did it all in the car 

at the end of today's  30.20 mile day, I've 47 miles left, to include at least 5 miles for the RNLI Mayday mile a day

total achieved so far : cycled 232.28 miles, walked 32.51 = 264.79

Lesley Williams
5 months 3 weeks ago
May 9 on the Gower peninsula

An Oxfordshire Outdoor Learning Trust trustees' away day to Kilvrough Manor - walked 1.94 miles from Southgate to Pobbles Bay 

Increasing the target to 500 km! 

Lesley Williams
5 months 3 weeks ago
at the end of 8 days

mainly cycling and not much walking...  81.97 miles cycled; 

7.50 miles walked  = 89.47 miles total  = 143.99 km 

I think I must increase my target 

hardest mile was the Bannister community mile on Monday - jeffed it in 12 minutes 12 seconds - must get fitter 

Lesley Williams
6 months ago
May 1

day 1 - only on the bike - straight to a Governors meeting at St. Francis CE Primary School and then a longer route back on a Street Tag powerhour - although only for 45 minutes - 8.95 miles = 14.4 km. I'd intended going into Oxford for May Morning and walking round town, but regret the body wasn't willing at 04.30

Christian Aid
6 months 2 weeks ago
First donation received!

Congratulations! This activity has received its first donation!

How your money helps

Poverty pushed Aline to the brink. She was abused, homeless and hungry. But Aline pushed back harder. With Christian Aid funded small business training, she achieved what had seemed impossible, a vital income for her and her children.

Fundraising this Christian Aid Week will ensure more people in Burundi get the skills and knowledge they need to push back against the inhumanity of poverty.

Image credits and information i
Aline Nibogora is pushing back against extreme poverty in Makamba Province, Burundi by raising the living conditions of her community with the support of Christian Aid. Credit: Ndacayisaba Epitace
Aline Nigobora stands in front of her home, She wears a pink top and green skirt and is looking in the camera with a neutral expression