When is a walk not a walk? When it’s a matter of life or death.
That’s the stark contrast between taking a stroll down the lanes and through the woodlands around Selkirk and Lilliesleaf, and walking in temperatures of over 100F in desert-like conditions.
The RotaKids of Philiphaugh community and Lilliesleaf primary schools (two groups supported by Selkirk Rotary Club) put their best feet forward last week to enjoy miles of smiles – and to miss a morning of lessons!
Children in many countries miss school most days as they have to walk miles to collect water – often not even clean water.
Walking for Water, organised on a European-wide basis by Rotary International in Holland, is nothing new. Indeed, the RotaKids took part last year – but this year they did it with the whole school. The proceeds will support the Walk for Water cause and school funds.
Pupils were sponsored and event organisers provided a backpack to each RotaKid and their buddies as a momento of the occasion. Each walk took nearly three hours, with the P1s and 2s in the lead from the start to finish at Philiphaugh.
Walking for Water is an awareness and fundraising initiative. School children are sponsored by friends and family to walk six kms while carrying six litres of water in a backpack, giving them a little idea of what children in Africa may do daily.
The picture shows members of Philiphaugh RotaKids and their buddies. The backpacks were given to them by the Rotary Club of Selkirk.