The Andalucían Coast to Coast CHARITY Walk, coming through Jimena

(From Guy Hunter-Watts) We are thrilled to tell you that next Spring, betweeen April 27th and May 17th 2011, a group of us will be undertaking a long distance walk to raise funds for a children's home in Nepal. And we would like to invite you to join us for the whole or a part of the trail. Our fundraising walk will be based on Guy's new guidebook, The Andalucían Coast to Coast Walk, a 21 day, 430 kilometre trail through the mountains of southern Spain. Each of the legs is a beautiful walk in its own right, covering a distance of between 16 and 27 kilometres, and thus within the capabilities of anyone of sound health who walks on a regular basis.>

The trail begins on the beautiful beach below Maro, winds its way through no less than 7 Natural Parks and ends beside the Roman ruins at Bolonia. Highlights include the mighty Maroma massif, the magnificent karst formations of The Torcal, the wild mountains of the Sierra de las Nieves and the ancient cork forests of Los Alcornocales. Passing through fascinating villages like Competa, Carratraca, Ronda, Jimena and Castellar the walk takes you to the heart of Andalucía's magnificent sierras.
Our hope is that all of those who participate will walk for a minimum of two days and will raise funds through sponsorship from friends and family. We'll stay in simple village accommodation, shop for our own picnics and get together most evenings at dinner. Some of us will team up to walk, others will prefer to go at their own pace, whilst all of us will have access to a support van which will move our luggage from inn to inn. We'll be treated to beautiful scenery, stunning mountain trails, fabulous flora and fauna - and all this whilst raising funds for our cause.
Many of you who are invited to join us are already supporters of The Buddha Memorial Children’s Home Trust (Charity No: 1115273) and The Sherpa School. For those who are not please let me, Layla, tell you a little about it.
The Sherpa School, situated in an impoverished part of Eastern Nepal, began in 1996 as a kindergarten with just 25 children from destitute families. Now, with a new school building and both boys' and girls' boarding houses, we have 228 children. Most attend on a daily basis whilst 40 orphaned or disabled children live at the school as boarders, being given a loving, secure home in a family atmosphere.
It is little wonder that the poor people of the area are desperate to send their children to The Sherpa School: we provide free education, meals, uniforms, shoes, stationary and medicine. The good lunch they are given is often their only healthy meal of the day. The education they receive is of such high quality that those who go on to the government school leave our Grade V (aged 15) and go straight into Grade VII. We have a waiting list of 500 who are either destitute, homeless or orphans and it is heartbreaking to have to send them away. But the children we do take are a joy to see. Happy in their work and their play, even the youngest seems to be aware of the chance they are being given.
The Sherpa School receives no funding from the Nepali government, nor indeed from any other Nepali source. So to all of you, those who are already friends and those who we hope will become one of them, please, please join us if only for a day or two. It’ll be huge fun as well as helping as wonderful cause.
All we ask at this stage is for you to send us an email letting us know that you are able to participate. Please remember that as well as walkers we're looking for volunteers who can help us transport luggage from village to village. We'll then send you much more detailed information about the route, logistics, hotels etc as well as possible approaches to fundraising.
With our very best wishes,
Layla Paterson & Guy Hunter-Watts

Please contact us here at JimenaPulse or CampoPulse if you want to take part or sponsor a walker or for any furher information, including suggested hotels for the entire walk.