Walk 4k Daily with 20kgwater-for David, Faith & 'YES Uganda'

I am Walking 4km per day carrying 20kg of water for 2 weeks to raise funds for David and Faith volunteering full time with YES Uganda Charity. Starting Tuesday 15th October - Tuesday 29th October 2024.

MY GOAL - to walk for 4km everyday for 2 weeks carrying two jerry cans full of water in each hand equalling 20kg in weight. 2km along the river from Lewes Railway Land and 2km back again, resembling the daily walk many children are forced to do to provide water for themselves and their family, like Daisy in the story below.

WHY - My friends Faith and David Paterson have dedicated their lives to serve in Uganda. Helping people in Africa has always been on their heart, both meeting on a mission in Africa back in 2013 , they then went on to qualify in trades that would be useful in Africa. David, an electrician and Faith a Nurse.

They have been living in Fort Portal, Kasusu in Uganda for over two years now, volunteering for YES Uganda full time, a small local charity. YES Uganda primarily runs a live-in school called ‘Manna Rescue Home’ for children living with HIV and David who is a qualified electrician has recently started a new initiative to install solar panel lights in homes which otherwise wouldn't have any electricity. For the last year and a half Faith and David have fostered three siblings aged 4, 7 and 12.

WHY DO A WATER WALK? In Kasusu where Faith and David live there are some built houses and some mud huts, neither of which guarantees access to water. Most people of the village have to travel for miles on a daily basis to bring back water. I feel that the water walk replicating a child's walk to get water everyday is an impactful way to remind myself and others the things we take for granted.

FAITH AND DAVID'S NEIGHBOURS STORY - Daisy is only 5 years old, she has a mother who was paralysed due to Cerebral Malaria which means the parasite entered her brain and went untreated for a long time. In ended with her being permanently paralysed. Due to this daisy had to take up most household chores including cooking and cleaning. Everyday like many other children in her village she has to walk 4kms to collect water from a well and carry it back home. She would normally collect 1 or 2 jerrycans which is around 20L plastic container. This means as a 5 year old she use to carry 20 - 40kg to ensure they had water to boil and drink at home. The journey to the well was very dangerous walking near a main road, dark tracks and places that can make a female be in vulnerable situations.

MONEY WILL DIRECTLY ENABLE THESE PROJECTS TO CONTINUE:

The running of the Manna Rescue Home for children who live with HIV

The solar light project in mud huts

Continued care for the three sisters Faith and David have been fostering

Living within the local community

Running bi monthly groups of faith

Link to Yes Uganda website - https://www.yesuganda.org/

Link to Faith and David Paterson mission updates - https://steppingoutwithfaith.wordpress.com/

Or find on Facebook by searching 'stepping out with Faith'

Thank you for reading, I really appreciate your time and interest.