A group of fifteen mature postgraduate students have been set an amazing challenge. They must travel no less than 3,000 miles and raise at least £30,000 for charity - and spend no more than £30 in doing so. All this has to be achieved in just 60 hours from 11th - 13th March.
The challenge was given to them as part of a course on Leadership run by Exeter University. The group have decided to raise money to set up links between young people in Afghanistan and America, in order to help develop friendships and understanding in the aftermath of the tragedy of September 11th.
They will begin by putting a group of visually impaired young people in Kabul in touch with young people in New York. They plan to raise support in the UK and then travel to New York, taking messages with them from Afghanistan. They will also give a presentation to potential US corporate sponsors. Money raised will be channelled through "Write Away", a UK Charity that helps encourage communication between people with various forms of disability.
"When we realised we could be in New York on March 11th - exactly 6 months on from the tragedy - we felt we wanted to do something that would help," said the Revd Richard Steel, spokesperson for the group. "It is vital to build real understanding between people of different cultures in today's world. If we can start something that will, even in a small way, help prevent such tragedies in the future we¹ll have done something of lasting value."
"What we need at the moment is sponsorship," he adds, "in cash or kind, as well as useful contacts in this country or the US." These include offers of airline tickets, Braille machines and personal sponsorship. £10,500 has already been received. Full details of the needs and more information on the Challenge can be found on the special Challenge Web site.
The group of students are all in their 30s and 40s and all have full time jobs as well as attending the course part-time. They include people from the world of business, public service, military and voluntary sector and are all involved in leadership roles within their respective organisations. This challenge is the final Module of their course.
Fr Steel is Communication Director for the Church Mission Society. Please contact him on 020 7803 3333 (office hours) if you can help in any way.
Article from: CMS