The 19th annual Kamogawa Sponsored Walk 2024
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 17TH- The Kamogawa River, Kyoto
THIS YEAR, THE KAMOGAWA WALK WILL CONTINUE TO RAISE FUNDS TO SPONSOR MINI-LIBRARIES/PLAY CENTERS AT EACH OF THE ZIENZELE COMMUNITY CENTERS!!
LAST YEAR’S EFFORTS SPONSORED OUR FIRST MINI-LIBRARY AT THE RARIZHOU COMMUNITY CENTER, AND UNDER PAMELA’S THOUGHTFUL DIRECTION, IT IS A THRIVING SUCCESS! THIS YEAR WE HOPE TO RAISE THE FUNDS NEEDED TO ESTABLISH ANOTHER LIBRARY AT THE BEREJENA COMMUNITY CENTER.
The 3rd Miguel Pink Bike-A-Thon
In support of kids in rural Zimbabwe
Sunday November 17th, 2024
On Sunday, November 17th, Miguel Pink (10) will ride his bike from his house in Wellingborough to his nan and grandad’s house in Rushden, and back again, to raise funds to help with the educational needs of his wee friends in Zimbabwe, southern Africa. This is a distance of approximately 12 miles (about 20 km) over some treacherous terrain; high kerbs, big puddles, and the possibility of seriously muddy patches. Please show your support for Miguel and his team (his dad Westley) and donate generously! Let’s not forget, we are all brothers and sisters in this world, and we all deserve the same quality of life regardless of where we were born and who we are.
“The Kamogawa 10km Sponsored Walk” started in 2005, and was completed every year without fail until 2020, when Covid-19 intervened and forced its cancellation. It was a very difficult decision to cancel in 2020, but the circumstances at the time made it almost impossible to manage. However, we were able to resume our activities in 2021, walking in memory of our great friend and “Super Walker” Gordon Maclaren, who had tragically passed that April. That memorial Walk was a tremendous success and a great tribute to the love felt for Gordon, with over 17,000 US dollars raised (at least 1,500,000 yen). In 2022 and 2023, we kept that momentum building, with terrifically successful Walks paired with the Miguel Pink Bike-a-thon! This year we are back into action once more!
The 2024 Walk will take place on Sunday NOVEMBER 17th.
Walk organizer Kevin Ramsden travelled to Zimbabwe in September 2023, during Prisca and Nancy’s field visits, and saw firsthand the impact Zienzele has on the communities where they work. Based on the needs Kevin observed, and after fruitful conversations with Prisca and Nancy, the Kamogawa Walk now aims to fund mini-libraries and play centers at each of Zienzele’s three Community Centers: the goal is to provide free access to reading materials and a safe play space for the children of the communities Zienzele serves. As part of the Walk goals for 2024, we hope to raise $1500 (USD) to sponsor our second Mini-Library.
As always, the money we raise will also go toward paying the school fees of the AIDS orphans of the Zienzele Foundation in Zimbabwe, an organization that we have always supported. Please check out their work here and donate as much as you can. Just as an example, a donation of US$25 will provide basic school supplies and the school fees for one orphan for one year, but please look at the other examples on the website to see how your money will be well spent.
On the first “Walk” in 2005, there were 19 walkers and they raised just over 500,000 yen (approx. $5,000). Since then, the number of walkers and the amount of money raised has generally increased, with some mega-years of very high returns, including one year of approx. 2,000,000 yen (approx. $20,000). With your help, we hope to ensure as many orphans and their carers get the help they so desperately need. We are all brothers and sisters in this world, and we all deserve the same quality of life regardless of where we were born and who we are.
Organizer: Kevin Ramsden