On June 6th 2009, Andrew will be flying to Zambia to help a team in setting up workshops making chairs and standing frames for children with cerebral palsy. The team is led by Jean Westmacott, who works for Cerebral Palsy Africa (CPA). http://www.cerebralpalsyafrica.org/ In order to do this he needs to raise the money for the flight. So, on May 8th Andrew, with the support of his eldest son Jack, is going to walk from The Church of the Good Shepherd, Four Marks, to St Peters Church in Preston, So this is where you come in. Any amount you can pledge will make a difference and is greatly appreciated. Please contact us if you think you can help. Thank you!
http://www.mrsite.co.uk/usersitesv2/PeoplePotential.org.uk/wwwroot/page12.htm
The Sponsored Walk. Firstly a massive thank you to all those who pledged money for this walk. Andrew is delighted to have raised enough for the trip to go ahead. All he has to do now is finish the walk! And collect all your pennies..... The plan is to walk from Four Marks to South Harting on Friday, Saturday heading to Washington (for a B and B) and Sunday heading for Preston Park in Brighton, finishing around 2pm. A total of around 57 miles, approximately. Friday May 8th 2009. Not put off by the hail storm and dark clouds from the morning, Andrew and Jack set off for their walk at 3pm, from Church. Jean (from CPA) and her husband Kennett (both going to Zambia too) came to lend support, as did Yann from Church. With the sun on their backs they strode off confidently, with the support for some of the way today from Andrew's stepbrother Stewart.
Jean, Kennett, Yann, Andrew and Jack outside the Church of the Good Shepherd First steps of many Andrew!
The top of Stoner Hill
Saturday 9th May After a curry (of course) and a good nights sleep at home plus a cooked breakfast, I left them at South Harting Church at 8.30 am. Their legs were aching a bit, and Jack used the first of the Compeed on his feet, but were in good spirits. The plan is to meet them after lunch at Houghton. Well...best laid plans....Jack has injured his foot and had to stop walking. Andrew is striding on and so far at 12.00 Saturday he is past Heyshott (where I used to live) - so isn't far off the half way point for the day, and is maintaining 3mph walking speed. He is missing Jack's company and the Bob Dylan tracks on his mobile (even though the lyrics were a bit close to the mark *how many roads must a man walk down, before you call him a man*, * Then the sands will roll Out a carpet of gold For your weary toes to be a-touchin*.....). Still planing on meeting him at Houghton at 3pm ish, and I (yes, me Gail!) am hoping to join him for the last few miles to the B and B at Washington - maybe even with Bob the dog... 10pm Saturday - an update before I go to bed. It was a good day overall today and Andrew is doing really well. We met him as he passed by Houghton at 3pm as planned. We gave him tea from a flask and some quiche (he ate the whole of it) and it gave him a chance to sort out his feet!
Then Jack took the kids off to Littlehampton for an ice cream (in-car dvd player has been a godsend today!)...and I walked with Andrew (and Bob) the last two and a half hours to Washington. I really enjoyed it - the views were awesome and the weather was perfect.
Found the B and B in the village,run by a very nice and helpful lady, then we all had dinner (and a well earned pint for Andrew) in the pub and then the kids and I left Andrew to soak in the bath, sort out his feet and flop into bed. Tomorrow (sunday) I will meet him at Devils Dyke road about 12 to give him tea and sarnis (the lady at the B and B has baked a cake for him and is supplying a nice big breakfast!) and will then wait to meet him at the end in Preston Park around 2pm. I think Andy can't wait for that moment..... Sunday 10th May 8am. Well, he is up and about, and I spoke to him on the phone this morning whilst he was having breakfast. Anne was sorting him out with sandwiches, cake, aloe vera and a promise to *sort his knee out* - he has been very well looked after there A lucky find. I am going to meet him at 12 at the point where he leaves the offical South Downs walk, at Devils Dyke Road. From there is it a straight route down to Brighton, hopefully fueled with food and the anticipation of no more walking!... We did indeed meet him at Devils Dyke! What views, what a place, and what lovely weather. We were so blessed with that.
6pm - He is home! Asleep in the bath!... He arrived at St Peters Church about 3pm to a small welcoming party.
A very big heartfelt thank you to all the messages of support he and I have had throughout the weekend,they have really kept him going. It was lovely that he was in so many peoples thoughts and prayers...my inbox on my mobile is full up!! Thank you to the people who made an effort to come out and see him - we really appreciated your support. Now the huge task of collecting all the money pledged!....but we certainly think with all your help he has achieved what he set out to do. Bring on the Zambia trip now!....
...to be continued....
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Wishing each other luck on Saturday morning, outside South Harting Church. 
