There have been two large gifts for building this school in Uganda. When I first thought about doing the walk I announced it out of desperation. I had told Bishop Edward that I would support the school. However,there was no money forthcoming, there was a recession and little interest. I decided to walk to Carrow Road as a daft gesture to raise what I hoped might be a couple of thousand pounds. When others said they would join me, my hopes were raised. Then I had an anonymous offer of ten thousand pounds although the condition was that the money should buy needed equipment for the Ugandan School rather than be used for building purposes. So I raised the bar and decided I would go for twenty thousand. Last week a Church said it would provide twenty thousand to build accomodation for the school children. I have been bowled over by these acts of generosity and thank God for them. I was speaking to a journalist from the Hunts Post who said, you should aim now for fifty thousand!

I don't want these big gifts to take the spotlight away from all those people who want to raise money and who can only give the odd coin or so-let's not forget what Jesus said about the widow's mite, "she gave eveything she had." All efforts are welcome. Neither should the big gifts take away from the innocence of what we are doing. Furthermore even 50 thousand would be a tiny drop in an enormous ocean of poverty and need. No, we now have the opportunity of doing something really significant, perhaps by being able to pay for more teachers etc. Besides who knows where this will all end, and what people's generosity will achieve.

There was a photographer waiting at 9am on Monday morning to take a picture for the local paper of those of us going to Uganda. She had us line up in a Conga!

So much effort is going towards helping Uganda. Joan sent twenty pounds from N Ireland, some local scouts have raised over seventy pounds by holding a cake stall, local Guides wanted the proceeds from their Carol Service to help The Bishop's School,people have promised sponsorship money for the walk in March etc. There has also been a substantial amount given anonymously to provide equipment for The Bishop's School. Through local contacts we have asked the Headteacher in Uganda to tell us what equipment is needed and he has sent a list. He is trying to equip a science lab and all the items he asked for are by our standards very basic, telling us that he is starting from scratch. We understand that the equipment can be bought in Uganda, presumably from Kampala. I am becoming more hopeful that we can raise twenty thousand to build the dormitory for The Bishop's School. When Canon Gershom was with us recently he told us why the dormitory is necessary. At present the children are being housed in a nearby village, which is not always the safest option. He spoke of abuses against children and in extreme cases child sacrifice posing a threat to their safety. The latter sounds unbelieveable in this age, but I have it on the best authority that it does happen in Uganda.

We realise that in the grand scheme the best we can do is only a drop in a mighty ocean. To help Africa, fresh initiatives at the highest governmental and international levels are required. That doesn't mean we should do nothing; every little helps make life more bearable. "Cast your bread upon the water and it will return after many days."

"Will you write more? I'm disappointed when you haven't written up your blog". I was staggered to get that message today from two people who live in Northern Ireland. The fact is I had not written for a while because I didn't think there was anybody out there reading it on a regular basis. But I will write now, even if it's only for two people in Northern Ireland! If there is anybody else out there let me know, or join the followers by clicking on to that logo. I don't need to be psychic to know that there is a horse lover out there who hasn't signed up be being a follower yet, and it isn't Mary King!

So where are we now? Well as I write Norwich have shot up to third in the league. What's more my leg muscles are getting well developed for this walk on 1st March. My trainer at the gym has increased endurance training on the treadmill. I had complained that it was getting too manageable, now I'm like one of those cartoon figures with legs moving fast and sweat pouring off me. But it feels much more challenging.

The trip to Uganda in August is now booked. At present there are six of us paid up and ready to go. June and I will be preaching at a Convention. Some will be helping Watsan which stands for water and sanitation. I'm not sure what they will be doing, but it will be something practical. Sharon is a Funeral Director who also wants to find out how the Ugandan people bury their dead. Martin works in a hospital here and so will team up with the Kisiizi Hospital. Jeremy used to be a headteacher so will be able to give us good advice about our school work. Alan, an old school mate, is a Director of his own business but is willing to get his hands dirty. I think people's hearts are being touched by this trip. When we saw Canon Gershom's pictures of the school we want to support, we were all moved by what we saw, and by the lack of progress on the dorm. It's foundations were dug so long ago that grass has grown over them. What a challenge!

What have the Queen and an African vicar got in common? The answer? I met them both on the same day. Naturally, I slightly exaggerate. I met the African, I saw the Queen. The Queen and Prince Philip visited Ely Cathedral for the 900th celebration of the Ely Diocese. It was a great occasion.(For me another Forrest Gump moment!). I sat opposite them in the service, with lots of others. The African vicar, Gershom Muhanga, was staying with us. I'm aware that all this can seem an exercise in name dropping. The point is the amazing contrast between these two worlds and being there to witness them both; just like Forrest. There was the pomp, the protocol,the fleeting glance of royalty and the sense, "I was there." But to be there to encounter the Ugandan man was more amazing. A man who took a photograph of me lighting a domestic fire, who had never seen a piece of coal, who had no choice but to live a simple life. Here on a scholarship, he arrived at our house with one coat which had been given, a rolled umbrella we had bought him and a small brief case which was borrowed. He talked to our people about the suffering of the orphans, the terrible conditions of Rwandan Refugees in Mbarara and our need to be grateful for all we have in this country. When asked what he liked about England he said "everything,you should be grateful for everything." Of course someone has to buy the coat and the umbrella to give, but I learned from him that life can be simple and uncomplicated; we need so little to live. When I explained to him as I left for the Cathedral the complex arrangements he asked "are such people free?"

I was thinking about Mr Miagy. As I raked leaves I remembered his words to Daniel "wax on wax off." The Karate Kid was essential viewing in those halcyon days of the 80s when our boys were young. Watching it with the children was a great excuse for those of us who were 30 something. There is that part in the film where Daniel gets to wax the car and paint the fence, until he flipped and quit. Finally, the truth was revealed by the master. The strokes of the paint brush and the circular movements of polishing were the precise movements for karate. So what about my leaf raking? I should have been on my next long walk, but the thousands of leaves on the lawn had to be dealt with and this kept me at home. "Walk on, walk on," could I hear the rake on the leaves saying that? Perhaps not. Then the master revealed a truth, or at least the decorater told me of some advice on the radio that very morning. "You don't need to rake, no, put the lawn mower over them, make mulch and let the worms do the rest!" It came like a moment of enlightenment, not to mention relief!

Our garden is about an acre; an acre covered in leaves! It's a size of garden dating from the days when vicars were something and had a gardener! Pushing the mower over the acre, guiding it across the thick layers of fallen leaves, putting one foot in front of the other, I didn't need Mr Miyage to make the point!

Yesterday I was told that the Traditional Shotokan Karate Club in Ramsey have decided to support our walk to Norwich for the children in Uganda. I am very grateful to Graham Harding their instructor for his backing and that of his young students. Graham is himself something of an adventurer who took a parachute dive on his 60th birthday. I hope there will be other individuals and groups who might follow the lead of this club. There is certainly a lot of good will.

Meanwhile we have been shown a DVD of the school in Uganda for which the money is being raised. Andrew Cooper a theology student from Ridley Hall visited it in the summer and has brought the pictures back. It shows a school in the same complex as a church. The school is like most of the school buildings in Uganda; very poor by our standards. The dorm has been marked out but awaiting the finances to start building. The class rooms that have been erected are shell like and rough looking. There is the need for even the basic equipment and yet more than 200 students are already attending school. The challenge is great.

"What route will you be taking?" This is a question I've been asked several times,and I haven't had a very accurate answer. Every time we go to Norwich we drive, making our way across Fenland roads until we get to the A11. But walking the 60 or so miles to Norwich requires a very different route. The main roads are clearly too busy and dangerous for walkers. In spite of looking at the map time and again I wasn't sure how to find a reasonably direct way from Ely over the flat Fen landscape into Norfolk. A more detailed map has revealed the Hereward Way which goes from Ely Marina to places like Prickwillow, Shippea Hill and on towards Mildenhall. This path will then take us onto the Breckland to Brandon and through Thetford Forest all the way to Watton in Norfolk. It looks a winding way but it is a relief to know it is there. I've no idea yet how passable some of these pathways might be. "Why not get in touch with a Rambling Society?" It's so obvious isn't it? So that is my next job. June and I also intend to start walking parts of the route we will follow in March.

Again I want to mention the remarkable adventure it is to meet and get advice from such different types of people in the pursuit of this goal. It has brought together the most unlikely combinations all with their own insights, humour and practical sense- how colourful and textured this life becomes by just pursuing, listening and taking some moderate risks.

The purpose of this blog is to raise awareness of the needs of children in South West Uganda and to do a sponsored walk to Carrow Road to help The Bishop's School there (not a Church school) to build a dorm and other buildings and buy equipment. It is an investment in the future of these children in a very poor part of the world.

Last night I spoke by phone again with Bishop Edward in Uganda. A team of us will be going in August 2010. Last night's conversation meant we can arrange our trip from the 12th to 25th August. With the help of a local travel consultant we can now arrange our flights. So far five or six of us will be going. During that time we can visit the school and see the needs first hand. Some of the team will do practical work, including work at the Kisiizi Hospital. June and I will be taking services in the villages and preaching at a Convention during week two. However, it is unthinkable to go to such a poor part of the world empty hand.

Today June and I did our second 10 mile walk this time in the Wandlebury area of Cambridge. What a change in a week. The Beech trees especially looked beautiful as their leaves changed colour. We followed the Roman road and thought about the long history of it, beginning with the local garrison building it. We came back through Cambridge and bought some maps to try and find a route across the Fen to Norfolk.

I have been quiet for a few days but plenty has been going on behind the scenes. I wrote a piece for the Parish magazine about the walk to Norwich and as I have gone around the town several people have mentioned it to me. I have also some indication that there is now a seriousness about raising a significant amount of money for The Bishop's School in South West Uganda, to help further the children's education and well being. This morning I used Cheapest Calls to speak with Bishop Edward Muhima, Bishop of North Kigezi Diocese where the school is situated, who in turn is talking to the Headteacher about what might be achieved. It is thrilling to think of what might be accomplished because of the goodwill of people in this area.

I want to welcome Kathy-Ann and Ellen to the list of followers. I am delighted too to get the support from our lovely granddaughter Eden Grace. It was great to have a response from an old school mate, John Robinson (Robbo) who is now living in France. Thanks John for your words of support. We spent many happy hours together standing behind the goal at the Barclay End when we were kids. I remember vividly standing there during the kick-in before a match when Ron Davies shot the ball which went just over our heads and knocked a woman out who was standing immediately behind us. There's one piece of trivia (though not trivial to her)which has now been rescued from the obscurity of the universe!

I'm sure once the walk begins (on March 1st) it will not just be fitness that keeps me going, but the prospect of helping African children and the memories shared with so many old friends.

Monday 1st March at 9am is a possible date for the walk for Uganda to leave Ely Cathedral for Norwich City Football Club. It is estimated that there will be a 15 mile walk each day, ending at Carrow Road on Saturday when Norwich play Yeovil. If anybody out there would like to join in for part of the course, the whole course or only for a mile you will be most welcome. Please contact me at darmodyrichard@hotmail.com

Several people have asked me about sponsoring the walk. Do let me know if you want to do that and I will give you some details. I am also planning a more accesible way for people to give. There are no overheads as far as our work is concerned. Our own trip to Uganda in August is self financed. The money given will go to The Bishop's School (in spite of the name it is not a Church school). As we will be on the spot in the summer we will be in a position to ensure the best use is made of what money is given. There will be accountability for what is done with the finances.

Anyone who has been to certain parts of Africa will know that often it is the Church which has to act as a social service. It is not necessarily ideal but it is the reality and without it many people of all ages would be poorer.

We've gone international, it's official! Today I had a message from Marina Harris from the beautiful island of Tobago saying she is following the blog and that folk in Tobago are supporting the walk! Alright, she is a relative! But it's the way you tell them isn't it? Just think what a headline it would make in our local rag 'Trinidad and Tobago Join the Pilgrimage to Carrow Road.' There is a serious side to all this, but it is an agreeable seriousness. One of the lessons I have learned is that a good cause becomes a kind of dance, a bit like the Conga, which is a Latin American dance with African origins. It is such an infectious dance with all kinds of people joining on the end of the line. Well,thinking about some smiling, poor children in Uganda and adding a daft idea from a vicar and diverse people join in the serious fun. All sorts are united in the dance and age and geographical distance become irrelevant. Lord Mahinney, the Chairman of the Football League has also been good enough to give me some practical help. As a committed Christian he has been a marvellous support to me in my ministry over the last 10 years, and I welcome his help with preparations for the walk. David Armes too has been in touch. As with Alan Howard, David went to infant and junior school with me and we have met up again after many years. David taught me to tie my shoe laces. What a significant role that one act has played in my life! So, what a dance we have begun!

June and I put more time in at the gym today and were amazed that we weren't stiff and sore after yesterday's walk. What will happen next?

A heavy cold during my last week's holiday of the year-typical. Today I was sufficiently recovered to do a day's training. Remember, all this exercise is new countryside for me. When did I last do a serious piece of walking? Probably when I was 15, doing Fell Walking with a school group in the Lake District. So 10 miles walking around Grafham Water at one go was a big deal for me. My wife, June, joined me and off we went. For the end of October it was incredibly mild, with the temperature at 16 C. I can see why some people rave about this walking business. The resevoir was shimmering in the sun light while several boats bobbed in the water as fisherman angled for Trout. We walked in and out of nature trails, enjoyed swans preening themselves, grebe's diving, herons taking off- and all for a two pounds parking fee! We surprised ourselves that we could manage the walk with some degree of competence. Our sandwiches and drink tasted divine; such simple pleasures. After completing the course around the lake we sat on a blanket with a hot drink and a last sandwich (kept for this final act of triumph) and surveyed our minor victory!

The Bishop of Ely's Publicity Officer has given me some excellent guidance about raising public awareness. I have spoken by phone to one of Norwich City's Chaplains, Reverend Arthur Bowles, who played football with my Dad after the war, and also did my Dad's funeral. It was good to get his moral support and it meant a lot. What a long way all this is from Africa, yet as we walked it seemed so near.

'Do starving Africans a favour.Don't feed them.' This rather startling headline was featured in The Times today. The point was that feeding starving people in the short term has led to long term problems across Africa. While we are feeding them the underlying problems are not being addressed. Well, it is easier said than done. When we see pictures of what is usually described as a famine of Biblical proportions, it takes a very hard nosed person not to want to help. At the same time the point of the article is still worth considering. The punch line is that our support should target education. It is a well educated Africa which will have long term benefits. This point encouraged me because in a small way the walk is designed to raise serious money for one African school. As a Christian who takes the Bible seriously my conviction is that education itself may not solve the problem. Corruption for example requires a change of heart and not just of mind.

There has been hunger in parts of Uganda recently. However,in the south west where we are visiting there is not a shortage of food. In fact the land is very fertile. It is the poor infrastructure (roads are appalling), the absence of industry and generally a lack of investment which causes poverty, to say nothing of the need of a shift in mentality, for example in a more productive use of "waste". The prevalence of malaria, HIV/Aids, breathing related ilnesses and their attendant tragedies add to suffering, with children bearing much of the brunt.

What we are trying to do is a drop in a huge ocean, and there are lots of other drops like ours. Nevertheless I think targeting education may not be dramatic enough to grab headlines but it is sound.

There has been high emotion today. My Parish work goes on as always with the highs and lows of pastoral life. In the few gaps I have had today I have been moved by some emails about the walk. Alan Howard's response to this blog brought some tears to my eyes. Alan and I were at Bull Close School Infants and St Augustine's Junior School together. We met again recently after more than 30 years. Alan is Managing Director of Aspect Roofing in Norwich. He wrote:
"I seem to recall that many, many years ago, two snot nosed lads clutching a packet of chocolate biscuits, queued 3 hours to be first through the turnstyles to see Norwich play Stoke City. At the time Stoke had the one and only Stanley Matthews on the wing and a star studded team. Norwich beat them 5 or 6 nil and Ron Ashman played a blinder. On that emotional basis alone, I would consider it a privilege to join you for the whole pilrimage."

My MP Shailesh Vara has offered some practical support. He left Uganda in the 1970s with his family when Idi Amin expelled many Ugandan Asians from the country and in so doing crippled that country's economy from which it has never recovered. Mr Vara has kindly contacted media representatives on my behalf with the hope that the publicity will help raise funds for the school in Uganda which started all this off.

Today's been a quiet day walk-wise after yesterday's heady news. I must be patient about getting publicity going. What is more, we mustn't peak too soon. It is also important to have a pause to help me answer the question, why am I doing this? Is it for the Ugandan children or is it for me?

At the Becket's Lunch for seniors a number of people showed an interest. Pat said we ought to make the walk a theme for the Lent Frugal Lunches after Christmas, and to give the proceeds to the cause. There was also a suggestion that we might contact the local schools to get them on board-it's becoming quite a community effort! The idea of a lone walker is giving way to team effort. My wife June is willing to head up some back up for the walk. Simon advised me about some of the available websites, about footwear and diet. Daniel has helped me with IT advice, I'm grateful Andrew has signed up as a follower today. I'm incredibly grateful to my wife and three lads for their support.

It all started with thinking outside the usual, having a cause and going for it. Why are we often hampered by our own fears of looking foolish? Striking out truly enriches life!

Cometh the day cometh the opportunity. I have received a good bit of encouragement today, to put it mildly. First the Bishop of Huntingdon The Right Reverend Dr David Thomson sent me a message of support. He had seen my blog and wrote to say he would be willing to wave me off from the Cathedral the day of the walk, and even walk to the Ely boundary. Not only that, he has included a piece about the cause on his own, to use his words, "blogroll." This gave me such a lift. Next I heard that the Cambridge News was interested in covering the story and taking some pictures. Then when I was doing my lunchtime work-out at the gym the instructor promised to include a piece with a photo in the Impressions Magazine. On top of that a friend from Church has offered to walk all the way with me to Carrow Road as a walking companion. Is this what those Calendar Girls felt like? No,definitely not, I'm not doing that!!
I watched Norwich on the tele lose 2-1 to Leeds last night. Norwich were awesome in the first half but lost in extra time as a result of an unfortunate error. I thought I'd let Delia get over it before writing, so tonight's the night. On the ball city!

"Did Gump walk or run across America?" A moments doubt told me to text my son Simon. He "just felt like runnin" came the answer. Oh dear, that's the problem with blogs isn't it? I knew I should have used Pilgrim's Progress! Anyway this Gump will walk, that's for sure!

I did something unusual for me. I had to be in Peterborough so I took half an hour to walk. For some no big deal, but not for this workaholic. What a reward. The October sun shone benignly. I strolled around a boating lake and took time to watch the swans, Canada Geese and seagulls. Suddenly a heron swept down gracefully and landed on the path in front of me. When it saw me approach it started to walk like Max Wall. And those strangers with dogs,on bikes and even the man carrying a canoe actually spoke, as though it were the most natural thing to do, rather than look at the ground. Is this a sub-culture, a subversive group in the hectic twenty first century that only half an hour of walking has uncovered?

My only trouble was that I was wearing shoes for a towny and trousers which tickled my right knee, driving me mad. There's a lesson for the big walk; suitable clothing!

I must pluck up courage and write to Delia tonight. Her moral support would be great for the cause.

Gump

Forrest Gump was always in the headlines without understanding their significance. He walked too, all the way across the States; he just kept walking. People walked with him. There is something about walking which grabs people's imagination. I announced it in church today, "I shall be walking to the sacred turf of Carrow Road." People laughed. I felt it was the laugh of support. A good sport offered to walk with me. Will there be others? Is this the beginning of a Gump walk? Will I grow a beard and speak wisdom en route? Will this wisdom become a bumper sticker?

Already I can see the walk is life changing. It means practice, training and planning. It needs time, other things have to make way, work has to stop. The Bishop of Reading tried to give busy commuters an egg timer at the local railway station to get them to stop for a minute a day. Walking practice will take more than a minute a day. As a vicar I should know the value of space, time off, exercise and sharing the joy of it with others. But not wanting to stop work in case the world stops spinning is a disease I know all about. So, keep walking Forrest!

Day 2,

After the party last night, it was a short night's sleep. My first thought in the morning...what have I done? Walk? Norwich? Delia?

I drove to Ely Cathedral for a 9.30am meeting followed by a service at 11.15am. The drive across the Fen on this bright morning in October did me good. It gave me time to think. I saw in my mind those children in Uganda. The boys in bare feet kicking a football made with plastic bags tied with string or elastic bands. The little lad passing our window early morning with a yellow gerry-can on his head to get water for the family before school. The 15 year old girl who is head of her family because her parents and grandparents are all dead due to HIV/Aids. The shack of a school building with earth floors, no electric light, the need of basics like pencils and paper. Isn't it worth a bit of humiliation, a few jokes about Delia's cooking!

After a full day I spent 45 minutes at the gym, and went for it with fresh enthusiasm. I told the instructor about the blog. I appreciate my son Daniel encouraging me to write. I hope it pays off!

Day 1 , My Decision to Walk!

This morning the idea was hatched. For ages I'd been toying with the thought. Today's appointment with my gym instructor clinched it. I heard myself say I was planning (perhaps a bit strong!) to walk for the children we'd met in Uganda. As I spoke, the idea started to firm up, in fact I was making it up as I went along , but the imaginings were taking on real forms . I was going to walk from Ely Cathedral, where I am an Honorary Canon to Carrow Road, the home of Norwich City FC (I'm a long suffering fan). All this to raise some money to help build a schoool in South west Uganda.

The fact is that there is so much competition for money raising and all for worthy causes. You have to do somethng a bit unusual to earn your sponsorship!

Before the day was out, and with no little thanks to conversations at my sons engagement party, new ideas emerged. What about asking Delia to meet you? Can't the Bishop wave you off? Well, we'll see. The main thing is to keep the children in focus; their needs and their education.