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.