'These Feet are Made for Walking...!'

Mari's March Madness - the 100km Sahara Stroll!

This page has been set up to provide news and to encourage support for Mari Griffiths, a member of St Faith's choir (and Stage Manager for the United Benefice Dramatic Society's annual pantomimes!) who is undertaking a spectacular challenge next year to raise money for a great cause. She is pictured above putting her feet up - something which she will have little time to do in the months ahead and even less in the Sahara.

Below you can read Marie's first two bulletins - there will be more to come, as we chart the progress of her preparations and publicise her fund-raising efforts. And under that is a regularly-updated diary of forthcoming events.

Page updated October 4th, 2008
Introductory Bulletin

Next March I shall be walking 100km across the Sahara Desert for Classic FM's charity Music Makers. The charity provides music therapy for disabled adults and children and under-privileged children, nationwide. As one who firmly believes in the power of music, it is a cause close to my heart.
 
This is someone who doesn't like excessive heat, walking or sand! Yes I must be mad but when I applied I never thought I'd be accepted. To say it's daunting doesn't touch how I feel, but at the same time it's all quite exciting, I've met some really lovely people, and I've been bowled over by the offers of help I've had already.

Fundraising has started with cake sales and plans for concerts and jumble sales. Our local football clubs have responded well, Everton sent me a signed photo of the present team to auction. I have to raise £2,500 by the begining of December. Training has started with me going to the gym on a regular basis and forcing myself to walk.

So far I've only managed one and a half hours. I have to build up to 7 hours a day. We will be walking over sand dunes, salt flats and in "Mirage Valley," we start near the Atlas mountains and walk towards the sea.

I do understand the  pressures on you all to give money but I do hope you will be able to support me in some way, and in return I shall provide you with evenings out, cakes and sales.

If you choose you can donate by accessing

http://www.justgiving.com/marigriffiths

So look below for news of my latest endeavours, and thank you.

Mari Griffiths
Training Bulletin: October 2008

On the weekend of the 20th September I travelled to London to meet up with my fellow trekkers at Classic FM in Leicester Square. The afternoon was taken up with a talk from Discover Adventure who have the dubious pleasure of accompanying us on our trip. We heard about our itinerary, the equipment we would need and the more personal aspects of the trip, which I must say are worrying me a bit. I can cope with not washing properly, and not being able to wash my hair, I can even cope with having to sleep with nine other people in a tent or more in the open air. However the toilet arrangements leave a lot to be desired, although I have no intention of going into details at this point in time; whether I will cope with this remains to be seen, but I guess I don't have much choice!

That evening we met up in a Moroccan restaurant in Covent Garden. The food was delicious, the cocktail I had was stunning but strong, and the company was entertaining to say the least (we were given a Pilates demonstration by one of the trekkers), and very pleasant. That evening I met up with my daughters, so I didn't see my bed until 1a.m.

My alarm woke me at 5.00 a.m. on the Sunday when I had to negotiate the London transport system and eventually found Leicester Square. We boarded the bus at 6.30 and set off for Camber Sands in Sussex for our first walk together. The purpose of this trip was twofold: to establish how much training we needed to do, and to encourage bonding amongst the trekkers. However the latter was academic, as we hardly paused for breath all day (talking that is not through exhaustion)!

The walk took us over soft sand and sinking sand, shale and a grassy path. On the way we found a seafood shop (don't think we'll have one of those in the Sahara) where we bought the loveliest cockles I think I have ever had, so they kept me going. Cat and Jo from Classic FM kept an eye on us and provided us with a packed lunch which we had at the end of the walk.

I felt very proud of myself at the end of the walk because I didn't feel that tired or sore. It was the first time I had really tried out my boots and they seemed OK. As we know pride comes before a fall and it certainly did with me, Once we returned to London everything stopped working mind, body the lot, and it didn't really come back until Wednesday morning!

The lesson from that is that I have to concentrate on endurance training, not my strong point, so to help in this I'm applying to be a volunteer at the Freshfield Animal Rescue. I thought if I have someone with me I might be able to go on for longer so I have to find a dog with good stamina that I can take for walks.

I'll let you know if my plan works!

Best wishes,

Mari

Now read more about it... from the website manager.

Click on the link in Marie's article above to donate directly and leave an encouraging message (or just to tell her she's mad!).
Help her to raise what she needs to get out there...

Click here  for details of the Classic f  m Music Makers' excellent ongoing project and its many activities.

Click here  to see biographies of the trekkers - including Mari.

Click here to read Mari's article, as published in the September 2008 issue of our parish magazine, Newslink.

Click here to see the publicity poster for Mari's fundraising campaign - complete with desert pictures...
 
     FUND-RAISING EVENTS CALENDAR AND REPORTS

     Nearly New Sale
    On Saturday August 16th, there was a Nearly New sale in St Faith's Church hall in aid of Mari's fund.
    The event was a great success, and raised well over £200 for the Cause. See the Mari's Cake Walk picture below!
     Barbecue Bonus!
     On Sunday August 17th, St Faith's and St Mary's annual Parish Barbecue took place in the vicarage garden.
     Miraculously, the weather stayed fine and more money was raised for the Cause! Over £700 now recorded on the 'justgiving' page (see link above)
   Bag Packing Day!
     On Saturday September 6th Mari and friends packed bags at Waitrose, Formby, collecting from grateful burdened shoppers for the cause.
     As a result of their efforts, the fine sum of £340 was raised to swell the funds, which now stand at over £1,100. Many thanks to all who helped!
     Quiz Night
     On Saturday September 13th - a very successful Quiz Night raised the fine sum of £366 for the fund. Grand total has now topped £1,500!

   Patronal Festival Concert
    Saturday 4th October 2008 at 7.30 pm
     Featuring Ann Marie Connors – Soprano, Neil Kelley – Piano, Melanie Harvey – Violin, Greg Cuff – ‘Cello
     Tickets: £7.50 (concessions £6.50) to include an interval glass of wine
    Stop Press October 4th: the concert was a great success: watch this space for up to date news of the sponsorship total.

     Mari selling Cakes for the Cause on August 16th

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