THE Bishop of Kingston, Dr Martin Gainsborough, has accomplished his mission to run the complete 268 miles of the Pennine Way in ten days, accompanied by his border collie, Jem. He has raised greater than £35,000 for charity because of this.
The bishop and his dog accomplished the challenge on Sunday, having averaged a marathon a day across a few of England’s wildest terrain — from Edale within the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm just over the Scottish border — with an incline of nearly 40,000 feet.
Dr Gainsborough said on Tuesday: “Running the equivalent of a marathon a day for ten days was pretty brutal because it is wild and mountainous terrain, and it is kind of easy to lose the trail.”
To say that he enjoyed the experience “could be overstating it”, he said, but to have made it through without injury was “deeply exhilarating”. He said: “Jem, who was magnificent throughout, is now having fun with a more sedentary pace in Southfields.”
The Bishop set out on 1 August with an initial goal of raising £30,000 to enhance education within the diocese of Matabeleland, in Zimbabwe, with which Southwark diocese is linked.
He had been inspired by the youngsters and teachers he met on a visit to the region last yr, where many children currently walk as much as 10km to get to their nearest school — a dangerous journey which implies that many, particularly girls, are unable to attend.
Martin Gainsborough/Diocese of SouthwarkCamping out on the Pennine Way
The money raised will help to construct recent schools like St Cecilia’s School in Lupane, which remains to be under construction, but already offers an education to local children.
Support along the way in which included a video, on the fifth day, of the Bishop of Matabeleland, the Rt Revd Cleophas Lunga, outside the cathedral with members of the Mothers’ Union and senior clergy of his diocese, singing heartily of journeying with Jesus.
Bishop Lunga said: “We are delighted that you simply are doing a superb, good thing, not only on your spirit and body, but in addition for us in Matabeleland.” The gifts donated would go “an extended technique to improving the lives of the young people within the villages”, he said.
Online donations have since reached £27,000, with an extra £8000 donated offline. The total raised currently stands at £35,389, and further donations are welcome.
Dr Gainsborough concluded: “I actually have been amazed how my run has captured people’s imagination — reflected in an enormous amount of support and prayers, and incredible generosity in fundraising.
“To have the option to make a difference to the lives of youngsters in our link diocese of Matabeleland so that they not need to walk long distances to highschool means greater than I can say and makes all of the pain and heartache value it. Thanks be to God!”
