More splendid sponsors

Having spent some time this weekend checking my emails I am overwhelmed with the generosity of more lovely friends who have made offers of sponsorship, beds, food, foot massages and walking partnerships. Many, many thanks to all of you. The above rather charming resident of the Mpora Rural Family Home that our friend Rob English met when he visited last January will be particularly grateful to:

Pete Terribili
Tom and Gaenor Withyman
Alison, Andy and Minna Munro/Molloy
Dom Rowles and Bek Vincent
Paul James
Trish Lorenz
Ruth Cohen
Caroline and Murray Kohn
Jonathan Morris
Kira Kernan
Karen Smith
Andrew Pryde
Jo O'Connor and Jaimie Payne
Elizabeth Rouse
Rachel, Alain and Megan McInnes
Dagmar Burnett Godfree
Nick Healey
Terri Jones
Susan Orr
Alison Edwards

for their financial contribution. I'll let you know how much I raised in total when I've finished my sums.

Thanks also for the messages of support (?):

Is this your new job?

Nice Hat!

Go Val! This is a stunning effort (only an attention-seeker would consider it necessary to do the John O’ Groats thing). Your charity is amazing, and it is great to know that all the money is actually going to help the kids.

You go, girl. Make sure you wear that hat!!!

Go girl go! What a fantastic thing to do! BTW I took a look at your blog - fab - re sandals & socks - you'd best ask our style guru Nick about that :-)

I think what you're doing is amazing and tremendous. (And your choice of how to do it puts a one-day walk around Paris into perspective.) Count me in and I'll also sponsor you for every time you jump into the Thames. (I'm sure you won't abuse this offer, though I quite like the thought of someone spending an afternoon hurling themself repeatedly into a river.)

Hope all goes well for your walk. What a great idea for a great cause.

Very proud of you young lady - bet those calf muscles are getting in to shape!

I’ll be in France during your pedathlon but I wish you bonne chance!

..pubs along the way... now I get it!

If you walk past Deptford drop in for a cup off tea, assuming you can clamber past the shopping trolley’s and used syringes by Deptford Creek. Richmond it isn’t.

More news anon...