During September, the members of the family of Rotary Club of Jersey, the Interact Club of Jersey, Purple Community Fund and the Philippine community in Jersey along with their respective families will be undertaking a virtual sponsored walk from Jersey to Manila in the Philippines to support the Purple Community Fund which is providing life-changing support for the desperately poor in the Philippines.
The 8,500-mile sponsored walk has been broken down into six key stages and aims to highlight the exceptional work of the Purple Community Fund as well as challenging local Rotarians to cover over 17 million steps during the month of September. This initiative is also being supported by the recently formed local Interact Group made up of 12 teenage members who have chosen this challenge for their first International project.
The virtual walk has been planned to pass through six locations where the Rotary Club of Jersey have established relationships, these being Hamburg, Znojmo in the Czech Republic, Istanbul, Kabul, Chandigarh and finally Bangkok before arriving in Manila.
On the 26 September those that have been taking part in the walk will be Walking approximately 5k to celebrate the final stage of the challenge which will hopefully be seeing the end of the virtual walk and an “arrival”in Manila. This final element of the challenge will be called the “Manila Purple Cake Walk”and more details of how the public can participate in this will be provided nearer the time.
His Excellency Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton Jersey’s Governor and an honorary Rotarian said “Rotarians have always been known for their willingness to go that extra mile for people and causes that need their help. However, walking 8,500 miles is taking their commitment to a whole new level!”
Rotary Club of Jersey President Richard Harwood said “ the purpose of the challenge was not only to raise all-important funds for this vital project but to highlight the differences between the amazing cities we will pass through during the virtual walk. We intend to update our progress daily on the Rotary website highlighting the wonderful sites we would have seen along the way, as well as the challenges being experienced by each community”.
Rotarian Jane Walker who moved to the Philippines to set up the Purple Community Fund said “the shoe making machinery which this walk is trying to fund will forever change the lives of multiple families here in the Philippines. Using old aircraft and truck tyres, this machinery allows the production of shoes including the most worn footwear flipflops to school shoes and ankle-high wellington boots for the rainy season. These are given to the desperately poor children with the surplus sold in local markets. This not only provides a livelihood for those employed but creates vital funds which can be reinvested in the children and the Community”.
Jane has pledged to walk 250,000 steps (125 miles) to support Jane, donations can be made using the Rotary Club of Jersey link which is linked to the Purple Community Fund bank account.
https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GeoffShepherd2
Or contact Hannah to sign up as a walker and raise funds for our amazing families.
t: +44 (0) 1489 790219 e: hannahperry@p-c-f.org
