These boots were made for walking...
Book lover and Yorkshire hiker, Gail Richards is walking over 200kms across the West Yorkshire landscape
to celebrate our 10th anniversary and to raise £10,000 to help
continue our literacy work in Ecuador, Malawi and Zambia.
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| Gail was inspired by the children's stories |
From
Hebden Bridge through Huddersfield, Wakefield and Leeds to Ilkley and onto
Howarth, the 20-day loop hike throughout April will take Gail through the rich
and diverse literary heritage that West Yorkshire has to offer. Gail will visit
local schools, museums, groups and bookshops along the route collecting
stories, join in reading and storytelling with local groups and collect unique
stories, poems and word snippets from passers by as she walks over the Yorkshires
hills, through valleys and along canal paths.
Said
Gail “I volunteered on the Book Bus in Zambia with my daughter back in 2012
and it was one of the most inspiring times of our lives. Every day the Book Bus
travels to schools and villages with books for children that have none. We shared
books and stories then brought the books alive through art and drama with lots
of fun thrown in."
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| Gail hopped aboard Book Bus Charlie working in Zambia |
Continued
Gail, “Whilst in Zambia I heard the stories of some children that walked for an
hour to get to school every day and an hour back, often through harsh terrain.
I was so inspired by their insatiable desire to learn that I was determined to
raise awareness of struggles many children have getting to school and accessing
books. I love walking and I love books too I thought I’d combine these and walk through
the landscape that I love, West Yorkshire. I’m aiming to raise £10,000 to celebrate 10 years of the Book Bus and to help keep the Book
Buses on the road to continue their vital projects,” concluded Gail.
