Sponsored walk advice please.

[philaw]

How far do you think you could get without stopping for re-supply? Some of the services people will know this. I'm thinking of doing something different for a sponsored walk, and thought that doing an epic hike, only taking on water, would be a good promotional thing to drum up support.

Assuming I carry 15kg including water, and I could get my kit weight down to about 6kg/ 12lbs, that leaves 2kg for water and7kg for food. I don't exactly plan on eating pemican (that fat and sugar stuff that Scott arctic explorers eat), but if I chose my foods well, with lots of fairly dry meats and dried carbs, like cous cous, with a fair amount of fat, then I could get a long way. At a rough estimate, I would need a maximum of about 1kg of food and fuel per day, so could survive at least a week.

What do you all think? Would you sponsor somebody that said they were going to walk the full length of the Wolds Way or Cleveland Way non-stop, except for water? It would really get the cause noticed if I could make an epic distance in a different way.

I want to raise some money for people in the area my wife grew up in (China), where the farmers live on $1-2 a day, and are as poor and lacking in opportunities as anyone. My wife even has a couple of relatives living there in those conditions. The main international charities don't operate in China at all because the scope of the task is too great for them. Bigger developing countries get far less per person than poorer ones; in China's case almost nothing. It would be good to promote the needs of people in mainland, where there are lots of problems and not a lot of help from anybody.

I'd have to decide what the money would be used for, of course, but I'm thinking of things like proper latrines/ toilets (they use pits), scolarships for kids to study, and income generation schemes (which is what they would probably prefer). My brother in law lives in the area, and the head of the primary school is my wife's cousin's husband, so there'd be people to organise it at that end. Any administration costs would be paid by me.

What do you all think? I think that if I could find some way to set up a website so people could sponsor me with their cards, and get it properly promoted and maybe accredited by a big charity, then it could take off.

[falling rain]

Very comendable philaw. I'd donate something if you get it off the ground. I.m always willing to give a little to people who are having a rough time of things.
If I may make a suggestion though. I think the basic concept is good but maybe the idea of not being resupplied is all a bit uninspiring to most people. Not people here because they mainly know, or can imagine what you'd be going through. But you'll need to inspire the general public too if you really want to make some dosh for these people. You'd also need to ensure you are getting enough calories for the physical activity you're undertaking. (walking and carrying a load.This isn't meant in a bad way but something like you are going to do a certain walk in 5 days with no sleep would have more WOW factor and therefore raise more money. Of course going without sleep for 5 days would be extremely tough for anyone and walking the whole time even tougher but if you want to raise any significant amount of money it's got to be something that people know you will have suffered doing (that's human nature) and are perfectly serious about your cause. The 5 days and sleep thing is just the first thing to pop into my head, but you get the idea. This is just my opinion though

[spamel]

The rations aren't really the big problem if you are using dehydrated stuff, it's the water! Water does weigh a lot and if you can plan a route with decent water supplies, you will make it so much easier on yourself.

Breakfast can consist of cereals, they weigh next to nothing. I tend to stick a weetabix and some frosties/cornfalkes into a small ziploc, that's one breakfast sorted. You could use powdered milk, or use condensed and add water for the milk.

Salami sausage can be cooked and has a good fat content, rice or cous cous, or that bulga wheat is also light and filling, oxo cubes will add flavour, noodles, powdered egg, dehydrated meat or jerky, these will all help keep the weight down and the energy up.

I'm sure people will add more to the possible ideas, but steer clear of the bulky rations, army rations are designed for you to carry a few days worth and rely on resupply, you couldn't carry a weeks worth without hurting yourself!!

[Neanderthal]

Sounds like a good cause.

If you want to do something like the wolds/cleveland way (70/100 miles) nonstop you would be best off travelling light and fast. You could average 2.5-3 miles per hour. Lack of sleep will probably cause more problems than not much food, especially when you start hallucinating and following the houris.

Try a weekend outing and see how you get on. 1 tip, break it down into short sections. Only 3 miles to the next way point is much more encouraging than 60 miles to go to finish.

[The Joker]

Sounds good I'd sponsor you.

It sounds like someone needs to invent powdered water so its lighter and to reform it.......just ad water

[philaw]

Thanks for the tips, guys. I was thinking that if I walked coast to coast along the hadrian's wall path with only what I had on my back, plus whatever water I need to get along the way, I could present that in a pretty impressive light. How many people have walked coast to coast? How many have done it without visiting a single Hotel, B&B, restaurant, cafe, pub or shop?

You're right that I would have to plan it well. I couldn't bivy illegally doing a sponsored walk unless it was low profile, which defeats the point. I'd have to plan stopovers and make sure I got enough to eat. It's certainly achievable, though. Maybe now I should ask some 'ordinary' people whether they'd be impressed, and talk to someone in a charity about the logistics of fundraising.

[falling rain]

Good for you philaw, let us know how you get on. Being 'impressed' as you say is about the right word. If people are 'impressed with what you're attempting, they're far more likely to get their wallets out.