Walking for Ebenezer

Mary reports...

The annual York Rotary International Charity Walk took place on a very wet mid -September Wednesday (September 20th) at Wintringham in the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds.

At exactly 12.00noon the heavens opened and twelve hardy souls gathered in the carpark clad in waterproofs, carrying sticks and even a few golf umbrellas! Gallantly led by Paul Roberts they embarked on the 5.5 mile walk previously planned by Nigel Naish.

Joining the Wolds Way, it took them on a route which was a little challenging at times but well worth the effort to get the beautiful views across the Vale of York. The sun even shone at times but at one point walking

against horizontal rain and gale force wind was not for the faint hearted! Returning to Wintringham via the small village of Thorpe Bassett the twelve were still in good spirits despite being rather soggy!

For the less adventurous (or more sensible!) Sheila and I had prepared a 2 mile village treasure hunt which took in part of the Wolds Way, the peaceful medieval church and Wintringham village street with its many pretty cottages and interesting buildings.

Unfortunately the torrential rain caught many of the ‘treasure hunters’ as well and they had to take refuge in the church!

York Rotary have a long standing relationship with Ebenezer Childcare in Livingstone Zambia. Following a visit Sheila and I made to Ebenezer.

In 2015 York Rotary undertook a project to refurbish classrooms and the kitchen at Ebenezer School and in 2022 we sent funds to purchase an egg incubator for the farm and the Director Owen Lisulu spoke to us via Zoom about their vision to become self-sufficient through the business the farm could generate.

We are delighted that the 2023 International Walk event at Wintringham has raised an amazing £1043!! This will go to refurbish the Basket Ball facilities and purchase a long wished for Ping Pong Table at the Ebenezer Orphan Village.

International Team would like to thank everyone for supporting this event. There was an army of people in the background who provided the raffle prizes, cakes, scones, homemade jam, clotted cream and equipment and helped to serve the Cream Teas, sell raffle tickets and help on the day. As ever York Rotary members and friends helped to manage the car park, set up the hall at the beginning, cleared it all away again at the end and helped wash up. All of which ensured we could leave the hall as we found it at 5.00pm sharp!

The York Rotary International Walk has been supported for a number of years by members of York Sommeliers. We were delighted Chairman Jason Valentine could join us and many members of Sommeliers (some of whom are also Rotarians). Jason presented a donation of £25 to the event from York Sommeliers which was raised in memory of Nigel Naish.

I’m sure Nigel would have been very pleased with the success of the event, he would have been delighted that everyone had a good time and we raised such a lot of money for a very worthy International cause.

WIntringham Community Hall