Commencing 1st September, Christo, Ben and Malcolm – combined age 200 years – will cycle the length of UK - from its south-west tip at Land's End to its north-east tip at John o' Groats, a distance of 1,740 km (1,100 miles). Liz will drive the same route in a car to monitor our progress and carry necessities.
Liz, Malcolm and Christo have between them spent a total of 60 person-years working in Malawi.
So that we cover UK in altitude as well as latitude, we will climb UK's highest mountain en route – Ben Nevis (4,408 feet, or 1,344 m). Thus we will cover the Length and Height of Britain (LAHOB).
Liz, Malcolm and Christo have between them spent a total of 60 person-years working in Malawi.
So that we cover UK in altitude as well as latitude, we will climb UK's highest mountain en route – Ben Nevis (4,408 feet, or 1,344 m). Thus we will cover the Length and Height of Britain (LAHOB).
What are we going to do, and when?
We aim to depart from Land's End on September 1st 2011, and arrive in John o' Groats on 17th September – after 15 days of cycling, one day scaling Ben Nevis and one day (6th September) resting in Liverpool, where Malcolm and Liz have a flat. The map shows our itinerary. If you can join us at any point for a ride, either 2- or 4-wheeled, please do!
We aim to depart from Land's End on September 1st 2011, and arrive in John o' Groats on 17th September – after 15 days of cycling, one day scaling Ben Nevis and one day (6th September) resting in Liverpool, where Malcolm and Liz have a flat. The map shows our itinerary. If you can join us at any point for a ride, either 2- or 4-wheeled, please do!
What are we raising money for?
For the comfort and dignity of adults and children admitted as patients to the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
(It’s only because there are patients – because people get sick – that all our expensive medical research and teaching institutions exist at all. Yet patients themselves often get a raw deal).
How exactly will the money be used?
If you are one of Malawi's 14 million people and you fall sick, the chances are that you can't afford private health care. Fortunately Malawi provides a network of free health services, and the nearest of these may be able to cure your sickness. But if your illness is severe, you will be sent to a hospital, where there are better facilities than at the health centre where you first went for help.
The hospital is still free of charge, but it costs money to get there, and you lose earning-time. If you are one of the 1 million people living in or near the largest city, Blantyre, you are likely to find yourself in the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH).
The wards in QECH are always full, and there are usually many patients on mattresses on the floor – under beds and between beds.
The numbers of nurses, doctors and items of equipment are still far from sufficient, although they have improved greatly in recent years. But comfort and dignity for patients are difficult to maintain - they remain seriously deficient and are not a usual target of benevolent donors
More about how the money will be used
For the comfort and dignity of adults and children admitted as patients to the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
(It’s only because there are patients – because people get sick – that all our expensive medical research and teaching institutions exist at all. Yet patients themselves often get a raw deal).
How exactly will the money be used?
If you are one of Malawi's 14 million people and you fall sick, the chances are that you can't afford private health care. Fortunately Malawi provides a network of free health services, and the nearest of these may be able to cure your sickness. But if your illness is severe, you will be sent to a hospital, where there are better facilities than at the health centre where you first went for help.
The hospital is still free of charge, but it costs money to get there, and you lose earning-time. If you are one of the 1 million people living in or near the largest city, Blantyre, you are likely to find yourself in the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH).
The wards in QECH are always full, and there are usually many patients on mattresses on the floor – under beds and between beds.
The numbers of nurses, doctors and items of equipment are still far from sufficient, although they have improved greatly in recent years. But comfort and dignity for patients are difficult to maintain - they remain seriously deficient and are not a usual target of benevolent donors
More about how the money will be used
