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I would like to express my thanks to our hosts in Ackworth during last weeks walk between Bradford and Scunthorpe – my brother-in-law Dave, his wife Sharon and their daughter Liz (aka Elizabeth or Lilley). A typically warm African welcome which was very much appreciated by us all.

I also have to say how much we enjoyed our stay at the Fair Green Hotel in Thorne, our accommodation for our second night. The staff were very helpful and put themselves out on the Saturday morning by coming in early to cook breakfast for us. The rooms were clean, pleasant and comfortable.

Following contact with local Iron fans and avid shirt collectors, 4 out of the 9 donated are already sold for a total of £150, and the remaining 5 are also likely to sell soon & could reach another £100+.

I have now taken another donation of more shirts, some of which are collectable, many will be shipped to Pakati along with other shirts, including those given to me by Rob Noble (Head of Marketing, Ticketing and Retail/Supportes Liaison Officer).

Following the success of the walk between Bradford and Scunthorpe a week ago, I am now in the process of gathering the promised donations of money, then I can work out what I can afford to send to Pakati.

All through the walk, particularly during the hardest parts, I always reminded myself why I had set the challenge up in the first place – my promise to Mr Chifaka, Head of Pakati Secondary school, to try and help get much-needed IT equipment there. Other better funded local schools are at an advantage, so I want to give Pakati students the same chances.

I want to carry on with different fundraising activities, large or small, to add to the pot. Please let me know if you have any bright ideas or suggestions I can consider. Email friendsofpakati@gmail.com ormessage us on http://twitter.com/friendsofpakati or http://facebook.com/Friends-of-pakati with your thoughts.

Next I am looking for donations on IT equipment – PC’s, laptops etc – that companies or individuals no longer want. Please clean them up but leave basic usable software on them. Stephenson Group Ltd of Horsforth, Leeds, have already said I can have 4 PC’s and a laptop….can anyone else help? Either businesses or individuals? Same links as above please.

This weekend sees me back in Scunthorpe to collect more donations, this time from football shirt collectors who are offering money for those shirts donated last Saturday. Should be a decent sum by the sound of it.

There are also more football shirts being donated for me to ship to Pakati too, on top of those given directly by the club. I am collecting more of those this weekend. There is quite a good number apparently. Once I have them I will take photos and publish them on here.

Below are some of the comments which I have received regarding the walk. Feeling a little humble to be honest…

“….I am one of those who feel and see how much determination you have towards this project..you just denied yourself because of this project. God bless you Chris”

“…well done big man…you gave it a good go, really good”

“…that’s brillant Chris, well done all who walked”

“….I’m so sorry I never got the chance to congratulate you on the walk. Amazing stuff!”

The walk gave me the chance to talk at length to my son Daniel, and his girlfriend Alice who took most of the pictures, but also to reflect on what we were doing and why…

It all came about from this meeting in September 2018 between myself and the Head of Pakati Secondary school in Zimbabwe, where I once worked 30 years ago.

The idea of raising funds to help the school with IT equipment came from that day. So far we have raised around £800, with more in the pipeline to come, plus the bonus offer from Scunthorpe United chairman Peter Swann to match whatever we raise.

The walk has given me renewed determination to continue raising funds for the schools, and I am looking for more ideas of what else might /can be done – see yesterday’s blog ‘The walk….what next?

I have some follow up work going on including publicity, collecting funds, collecting IT equipment, shipping & delivering, but also football shirts… quite a few are being collected & passed on to me. I just need to organise for them to be delivered too.

Some things have changed in the last 30 years at Pakati….lets try & make more beneficial changes to Pakati students at both schools.

The walk from Bradford to Scunthorpe took place the weekend just past. Thanks to my son Daniel, his girlfriend Alice in particular for all their support & efforts. I also want to thank Karen & Brian for joining us on Saturday.

Thanks to all who gave given support in which ever way they can – cash, online donations, football tops, publicity & promotion, interviews on the radio and podcasts, in various print media, PC’s and laptops – all very gratefully received.

Scunthorpe United FC have been very supportive, and on Saturday I received a surprise or two… we were in the club restaurant before the game, and the sponsors of the game & matchball were being introduced to everyone there.

Then Charles & Liz (matchball sponsors) were talking aboout having lived in Bradford previously, how they often travelled to Scunthorpe by car back then…but someone had walked there that day…and invited me up to speak!

I spoke briefly, before being given some old Sunthorpe United shirts…which it seems have a value to collectors! I am in the process of selling them for a good contribution to the funds.

Then the club chairman, Peter Swann, came over to me to tell me how much he supported what I am doing for Pakati schools..at the end of the conversation he said he would match whatever we have had donated, then will add the same amount to the cause!

So….the question is…as I need to continue to raise funds for the project…what should I do next?

Please feel free to come up with plenty of suggestions, ideas for raising money…I will look through all ideas & then decide which are the most practical and/or lucrative. Post them on facebook or twitter or email me…see the Important Links page on here.

Daniel and Alice completed the whole distance – FANTASTIC BOTH OF YOU

I completed day 1 and day 2, plus the last couple of miles on day 3 (due to injury)

Karen and Brian completed day 3 – THANK YOU!

Great reception from Scunthorpe United FC and fans!! Thanks to Rob Noble, James Moody for the ‘behind the scenes’ work, plus those who edit & publish The Iron matchday programme. Thanks to those who presented me with the shirts and applauded us in the restaurant, and thanks to the club Chairman, Peter Swann for his kind words and even kinder ofer to double whatever we have raised. THANK YOU ALL

Please donate http://gofundme.com/friends-of-pakati

I will publish more photos, details and updates later on. Let us all rest awhile!

Started outside Bradford City football ground

The walk will end at Glanford Park, home of Scunthorpe United on Saturday 27th April 2019 around 12 noon or thereabouts.

Day 1 is 22 miles from Bradford, through Birstall, Batley, Wakefield, past Nostell Priory to Ackworth. A few hills along the way, the toughest day.

Day 2 is 20 miles, from Ackworth, through Campsall, Askern and Stainforth, arriving in Thorne. Fewer hills, less steep, the second half is largely flat.

Day 3 is 14+ miles, from Thorne, passing Althorpe and Keadby, through Gunness, arriving at Glanford Park. Largely flat thankfully!

Days 1 and 2 are being covered by the author (Chris), his son (Dan) and son’s girlfriend (Alice).

Day 3 we are joined by one of my work colleagues (Karen Harper – a Bradford City fan) and a friend (Brian Smith – a Scunthorpe United fan). We are promised a warm welcome by Scunthorpe United (the Iron) on arrival.

Earlier this evening I was interviewed by Iron Bru, a fans forum and widely respected regular podcast. I must give them a big Thank You for allowing me time to chat about the Iron, the Bradford City game but mostly about this event/project. Very much appreciated!

I am also informed I am being interviewed again before the Bradford game kicks off by BBC Radio Humberside, around 2.30pm inside the ground.

I cant wait to get on with it…!

Much more walking is being done this week, building up to this Thursday when the actual walk happens. I have driven the proposed route to see what it is like, and it is clear the first day will be the toughest.

I have also been buying things we need, such as medical supplies and other things to make the walk more bearable…planning stops and breaks, making sure we are fed and watered sufficiently, plus having spare clothes at the stop-over points.

On top of this there is more publicity coming up in both the Bradford and Scunthorpe areas, as well as posting regular updates on social media throughout the walk, and at the end of each day on here.

Weather-wise it is looking like it will be cloudy, with the odd shower, and temperatures lower than recent days at around 13° Thursday and Friday, then 10° on Saturday.

At Scunthorpe United I must thank the following people for their assistance: Rob Noble, James Moody and those who edit and publish The Iron matchday programmes. I also want to thank Glyn Sparks (the Iron’s mascot Scunny Bunny) for his kind words and encouragement/advice recently.

Thanks also to some of the various fan groups for Scunthorpe United, particularly the Iron Trust who have given support to the cause. Iron Trust have asked for shirt donations from fans, plus they have recently given me space in their newsletter which goes in The Iron progamme each matchday.

I must also thank the individual fans who have given either a donation or encouragement (sometimes both), both in person and on social media and/or via this website.

Donations via: http://gofundme.com/friends-of-pakati

Follow us: http://facebook.com/Friends-of-pakati and http://twitter.com/friendsofpakati

Email: friendsofpakati@gmail.com