David Rivett, left, and Peter Pearce, of the Rotary Club of Gosford North, NSW, set out on a 1770km walk across the UK to raise funds for Wheelchairs & Desks for Madagascar.
Two “super keen but mad” Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Gosford North, AUSTRALIA, David Rivett and 2014 Gosford City Council Citizen of the Year Peter Pearce, are walking 1770km from the Scottish Highlands to Lands End in the UK to raise funds for Wheelchairs & Desks for Madagascar.
A brand new wheelchair delivered by Rotarians direct to a beneficiary in devastated Madagascar costs $180. A donation of 10 cents per kilometre will pay for one wheelchair. The full price of a desk constructed in Madagascar by Rotarians is $15.
While David will walk part of the route, his main role is to provide support to Peter.
The walk commenced on June 10 at John O’Groats at the top of the Scottish Highlands and will take approximately 79 days to reach Lands End in the far south west of the UK on August 27.
The marathon walk includes The Great Glen Way, which stretches for 117km from coast to coast across the Highlands, linking the main centres of Fort William and Inverness, a 152km walk along the West Highland Way, which transverses the Loch Lomand and Trossachs National Park, and The Pennine Way, a 432km walk from the Peak District National Park along the Pennine ridge through the Yorkshire Dales down to the Scottish Borders.
Peter and David will visit many cities and towns along the route, including Inverness and Edinburgh in Scotland, Worcester, Gloucester and Bath in England, finishing in Cornwall at Lands End.
Contact has been made with District and local Rotary clubs in the UKto gain their support for the marathon walk to raise funds for the Madagascar Project. It is anticipated clubs will meet Peter and David along the way. They plan to do it tough by free camping or staying in van parks at night.
Peter and David will be visiting Madagascar in October 2014 to distribute wheelchairs, and assist the local people of Madagascar construct school desks. It is hoped some Australian Rotary clubs who appreciate the devastating conditions may donate a wheelchair or two.
To follow the big walk you can go to www.facebook/RotaryMadagascarProject