8,500-mile walk to give Philippine families a step up

Sunday 23 August 2020

A group of islanders are readying themselves to walk over 17 million steps next month to raise money for shoe-making machinery to change the lives of children and families in the Philippines.

The Rotary Club of Jersey and the Interact Club are teaming up with members of Jersey’s Philippine community for a virtual sponsored walk from Jersey to Manila.

The aim of the 8,500-mile endeavour is to raise funds for the Purple Community Fund.

That money will be spent on machines to make shoes that can be given to vulnerable children in the Philippines and sold in markets, providing poorer families with a source of income, while also helping children and the community.

The virtual walk will take place in six stages and is expected to involve 17 million steps. 

Pictured: The walk aims to raise money for machinery that will help create footwear for children.

It will ‘pass through’ six locations that the Rotary Club of Jersey have established close relationships with.

This includes Hamburg, Znojmo in the Czech Republic, Istanbul, Kabul, Chandigarh and finally Bangkok, finishing in Manila.

The final stage of this challenge will be a last push of approximately five kilometres on 26 September.

This final segment will be called the "Manilla Purple Cake Walk". Details are to follow in due course on how the public can participate.

The challenge will be the first international project for the Interact Group, which was recently formed by a group of 12 teenage members. 

Pictured: The last steps of the 8,500 mile walk are due to virtually finish in the capital of the Philippines, Manila.

The beneficiary of the walk, the Purple Community Fund, is a UK-based charity dedicated to giving life-changing support to children and families living and working in poor conditions in the Philippines, such as in makeshift shanties with no running water or sanitation.

It was set up by Rotarian Jane Walker, who moved over to the Philippines, to help these communities.

Speaking about the impact of the funds raised by the walk, she commented: "The shoe-making machinery which this walk will fund will forever change the lives of multiple families here in the Philippine's. Using old aircraft and truck tires, this machinery allows the production of shoes including the most worn footwear flip-flops 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.” 

However, Jersey Rotary Club President Richard Harwood said raising money wasn’t the only purpose of the challenge.

He said the group also wanted 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,” Mr Harwood added. 

His Excellency Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, Jersey’s Governor and an honorary Rotarian, commented: “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.

Pictured: His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton.

“I am delighted to add my support to the Jersey branch and their characteristic support for the Purple Community Fund in Manilla. With the generous support of Jersey people, I have no doubt that the Jersey Rotarians’ marvellous endeavour will raise much needed funds to help these disadvantaged people learn to stand on their own feet. We look forward to joining the Club members and many others on the celebratory leg of this walk from West Park to St Aubin on 26 September.”