THERE AND BACK AGAIN WALKING ACROSS THE WIGHT FOR BIBEK

Matt will be walking approx. 60 miles over two days

Day 1 Friday 25 Freshwater to Bembridge

Day 2 Sat 26th Rest in silence at Quarr Abbey

Day 3 Sunday 27 Bembridge to Freshwater

In april 2014 I was lucky enough to return to Nepal for the second time in my life for several months.It’s an incredible country the crazy chaos of the capital Kathmandu, the breath-taking Himalayas, beautiful ancient Buddhist and Hindu temples and the shock of the poverty and the corrupt government.One of the highlights of my trip was to do another trek to above 5000m I planned to do a three week trek to Everest Base Camp.I decided to hire a guide through the hotel and they found me an independent guy they worked with his name was Binod who you can see in the picture above with his wife and his 9 year old son Bibek.I was slightly nervous as I would spend the next three weeks with him so it was important we got on.I needn't have worried Binod was a wonderful soul and over the time we got to know each other and I learnt more about his life.Seeing the way some of the locals lived up in the mountains was really challenging to my ego.Many of the locals have very little but work to levels that put us to shame I saw one guy a porter carrying goods up to the lodges walking up the trails with the most basic of gear and footwear for 5 days carrying 60 kilos on his back.I spoke to Binod about how this made me feel uncomfortable and ashamed of my in comparison, easy life.I wanted to help in some way if I could, he told me about how at the age of 15 his father had died and he had to support his family, his brother, sister and mother by going out to work as a trekking porter, he worked all day carrying heavy loads for the tourists and climbers and said the first few weeks were agonising and near physically impossible.He managed just about and he and his family survived.He has been a guide now for many years and is an expert on all the routes minor and major.He is ok but still earns very little just enough to get by.He told me about his own family now his wife, daughter and his son Bibek, I asked how was doing at school and he said he was intelligent but because it was a government school it was hard to do well and get a good job as the teachers really didn’t care, if you fell behind they were not bothered.I asked him how much a private school would cost and he told me 700$/£500 for the year.I said when I returned home I would do all I could to help him.I met many people on my travels of 6 months and Binod was the warmest most genuine of souls.I had no doubts if I did help him it would happen, later after the trek I spent some time with his family and met his son and wife hence the pics above.This year Nepal was hit by devastating severe earthquakes which killed thousands and injured many more, it has taken till now for the people to return to a semblance of normality, Binod and his family were ok but his village in the mountains was badly hit and his house was damaged, and lost its roof, the majority of his animals, chickens and buffalo were killed.I gathered some money earlier in the year from myself, family and friends. It has been a very hard year for the Nepalese and Binod's family and he is now thankfully in a lot better place and looking forward to getting back to work with the new trekking season starting this month.

On my return to the UK I returned to work after finding a job and received a lucky tax refund, I decided that I would pay for Bibek's first year at school and everyone was really happy to hear this.Bibek is doing really well now and his future looks a lot brighter.When I took on this responsibility I knew that it would continue each year and this year I have decided to raise some money towards the school fees by walking across the island and back over two days in silence, from Freshwater to Bembridge and back again.I will rest for a day at Quarr abbey in the middle, think I will need it.The silence is to remember all those who lost their lives in the tragedy of the earthquakes.Thank you so much for reading my story and if you would like to help me to help Bibek could you donate or pledge some money below all amounts however small or large are wonderful. Many thanks. Namaste as they say in Nepal !!! And I will be walking rain or shine so an Indian Summer is gratefully accepted !!!