As I won't be around until mid November, I wish to repeat my old complaint that this site does not allow for editing, paragraphs & spelling etc. My old English teacher would be quite cross!!

Ian

P.S.see what I mean!!! Feel free to hijack this topic whilst I am away if it get changes done!!

Hello everyone

No more LDWA Group walking for me for a while as there are now just 7 days to go until Alan & I fly to the USA. This will be your last post from me until November!

I would like to take this opportunity to say Thank You to everybody who has sponsored us for BBC Children in Need - to date we have raised £4,500. I would also like to say Thank You in advance to those of you who will donate whilst we walk. Your support is really welcome and very much appreciated.

We are being followed by three schools (one in Perth, Australia & two in England) and have a facility on our website to allow the children (or grown-ups!) to ask questions as we walk.

If your school would like to join in a fantastic geography excercise, feel free to contact us to join in (WE REALLY HOPE TO GET AS MANY SCHOOLS AS POSSIBLE).

Please take a moment to visit our online fundraising site www.hike4pudsey2006.com where you will be able to follow our progress via updated maps, photo's and text on a regular basis.

The most common email question so far is "can I donate by credit/debit card". Yes, you can donate by credit or debit card and all donations are secure and sent electronically to BBC Children in Need. On-line donations CAN be anonymous if you wish. If you are a UK taxpayer, Justgiving will automatically reclaim 28% Gift Aid on your behalf, so your donation is worth even more. Alternatively, cheques should be made to "BBC Children in Need" and posted to Sarah please.

Thanks again for your support.

Kind regards

Ian@

Hi Folks

The 'Outdoors Show' is Europe's largest outdoors show and is on at the NEC Birmingham on 17th, 18th, 19th March.

They have kindly offered me a small exhibition stand at the show to raise awareness for our hike.

If anybody is interested in the show, details are on www.theoutdoorsshow.co.uk

Kind regards

Ian

www.hike4pudsey2006.com

Ian Moseley (Cumbria group) and Alan Bucke (Essex & Herts group).

Our combined LDWA membership is 27 years but we cannot seem to motivate sponsorship for our hike on behalf of BBC Children in Need. We have tried the usual major companies but we are always rejected.

Please help us as we have achieved only 9% of our £10,000 target.

Ian

Hi Edward

Thank you for the comment. I will look into placing more general info about the AT (or perhaps a couple of links?). The running total is on the site. When you click the red 'donate' button, you are taken to the "justgiving" page and the total is shown there (just £408 so far but it has only been live for three days.

Ian

Hi, I liked the site particularly the map pages. But, two suggestions. 1. it might be useful to have more general background on the AT for the less well informed - may inspire them to give more money or at least explore the site further. 2. is it possible (or desirable) to put up a running total of money raised?

Hi Folks


The BBC have now given the "go ahead" for our website (www.hike4pudsey2006.com) to start receiving donations on behalf of 'BBC Children in Need'. Setting up the website and the on-going planning has been fun, so we would be interested in your views.


Ian

Hi All

As you know, next year Alan Bucke (Essex & Herts group) and myself (Cumbria group,) are planning to attempt to 'thru-hike' the 2,149.9 mile Appalachian Trail to raise funds for the BBC Children in Need charity.

We have today set up our new website www.hike4pudsey2006.com and would like to invite people to look around the site and let us have your views please. You can play with the maps and enlarge the images etc.

The reason for launching the site now, is that we hope to gain publicity off of this current Children in Need appeal (on TV this month). We will fundraise from now until June 2006, then start hiking with the aim of finishing in November 2006 when the BBC appeal is again on TV to gain maximum publicity and donations for the children.

If anyone can help out in any way what-so-ever we would be delighted to hear from you.

If you could forward this email to anybody around the world who may be even slightly interested - that would be fantastic!!

If you receive this email and wish to be removed from our mailing list, please contact us via the link on the site or at Ian@oldwaterview.co.uk

Kind regards

Ian Moseley (member 17111)

Someone I know did the trail for his first ever hike. He had never done any walking before, though he is an exceptional runner. He wanted to do something different and so took himself off for 6 months and did it. One of his main comments on his return was "There was an awful lot of trees."
Dave.

well mosey on down the trail ian, and good luck

I am intending to attempt a 'Thru-Hike' of the U.S. Appalachian Trail (the "AT") next year. I plan to fly out on or around June 22nd and take perhaps 5 months. I have applied for a 6 month U.S.Visa and will be doing the walk on behalf of the BBC Children in Need charity.

I would welcome enquiries from LDWA folk who would like to join me/us for all or part of the walk. We will have a website up and running by this November in time to launch the fundraising effort off the back of this years Children in Need event. Those who do not know the walk, can get a flavour of it by reading the Bill Bryson book - "A walk in The Woods". email me at ian@oldwaterview.co.uk or ring me on 017684 82175.

Regards
Ian