On the 12th May, I am going to participate in a 10km walk around the South Downs, a beautiful area of Southern England. This is hosted by ‘Just Walk’.
I plan to dress in Regency attire for the walk, as I am doing it to raise money for the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation Literacy Libraries Program, managed in partnership with Worldreader, to fund a new e-library and e-readers for Suhum MA Experimental C school located in the eastern region of Ghana.
“The distance is nothing when one has a motive; only three miles. I shall be back by dinner.”
10 kilometres is just over 6 miles, so funnily enough, this is the distance from Longbourn to Netherfield and back again - hopefully I won’t need to stop off half way, to care for someone with a cold!
“Elizabeth continued her walk alone, crossing field after field at a quick pace, jumping over styles and springing over puddles with impatient activity, and finding herself at last within view of the”
finishing line...
“with weary ankles, dirty stockings and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise.”
I am taking on this challenge on my own, and as well as raising money for the e-library, I am also raising awareness for Fibromyalgia Action UK. Fibromyalgia is a debilitating health condition and one that I have suffered from since the age of 17. “That she should have walked three miles so early in the day ... was almost incredible.”
I used to be able to walk such distances very easily, but when I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia nearly 5 years ago, my stamina, fitness and life changed dramatically. Jane Austen’s novels and letters were there to help and support me and saw me through the toughest times, while I was coming to terms with my new circumstances.
“She really looked almost wild ... her hair so untidy, so blowsy ... and her petticoat, six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain.”
This 10km walk is going to be a big challenge for me, but I have begun some training and have already received great encouragement from Caroline Jane Knight and JALF. I am really looking forward to being able to raise money for such a good cause. I am sure my own muddy and dishevelled appearance will be most ‘shocking’ when I have completed the walk, however perhaps my eyes, at least, will be “brightened by the exercise”!
"We are so proud to have Sophie as an Ambassador for the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation. Sophie has become somewhat of a celebrity in the Jane Austen community and was featured in the BBC documentary, My Friend Jane, to commemorate the bi-centenary of Jane Austen’s death in 2017. Sophie’s own story is a wonderful example of how Jane Austen can change the lives of people today and now Sophie is asking the Jane Austen community to help us change the lives of children in developing countries. Sophie’s sponsored 10km walk is a wonderful start to the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation Literacy Libraries campaign to raise £10,000 to buy a new e-library and e-readers for Suhum MA Experimental C school in Ghana.
Thank you Sophie, you are wonderful example to the Jane Austen community and I hope everyone gets behind you as you walk ‘to Netherfield and back’."
Caroline Jane Knight
Jane Austen’s fifth great niece and Jane Austen Literacy Foundation founder & chair
If you feel you could support my efforts by donating to the cause, please go online at the link below. Any donation will be very much appreciated. 100% of donations received will go towards the £10,000 needed to fund an e-readers and a new e-library for Suhum MA Experimental C school in Ghana.
I love this. I am a JAFF writer in South Carolina, USA. How does the money exchange work between the USA and the UK?
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