Big Miles for Little Feet

A very long walk. A very good cause. And, quite probably, a few very sore feet.

Candice Behrens (CEO of Starfish USA), Nicola Atherstone (former CEO of Starfish USA),  Caronine Garbutt, and Illona Theron headed to the beautiful Cotswolds, England  — one hill, one village, and one increasingly tired pair of legs at a time. They accomplished 86.58 km (or 132,332 steps) with a walking time of 23h52.

Why?

Because for many children in South Africa, a long walk isn’t an adventure. It’s simply how they need to get to school. 

An estimated 7 million children in South Africa have never owned a pair of school shoes, and our own Starfish data shows that 87% of children at the schools we support walk to school each day.

So, naturally, the ladies decided to do some walking of their own.

That’s why they laced up (and packed a frankly unreasonable supply of blister plasters) to take on a 6-day hike through the Cotswolds in England.

They’ll trekked through picturesque villages, conquered more than a few hills, and kept putting one foot in front of the other—come rain, shine, and some rather unexpected winds. The mission? To walk every last one of those steps and raise money to put school shoes on the feet of children who need them.

There were some scary blisters, aching muscles, questionable fashion choices, and some questions  over whose idea this was in the first place. But the ladies were ready to prove that doing good doesn’t have to be terribly serious. Sometimes it looks like a group of friends, a beautiful countryside, a very long walk—and a very good reason to keep going.

Only $5 for a Pair of School Shoes

Here’s where you come in.

The ladies have walked the miles, and they’d like every one of those miles to put shoes on children’s feet.

The challenge is simple:

That means every $5 raised puts a pair of school shoes on a child’s feet.

Sponsor one pair of shoes. Sponsor many pairs of shoes.

Whatever you choose,

100% of your donation will go toward putting shoes on feet.

Cheer the Ladies Along!

Six days. Eight villages. Many, many miles.

There were tired feet.

There were aching legs.

There were hills that looked much smaller on the map.

There was most certainly tea and scones.

And there was plenty of laughter, encouragement, and reminders that every single step was for a child who walks to school without shoes.

So while the ladies tackled the Cotswolds, you can do your bit from somewhere considerably more comfortable to help them reach their goal and put the last few pairs of shoes on the little feet that need them.

Will You Sponsor Shoes?

They did the walking. You provide the shoes.

Give an amount that feels right to you.

Every $5 provides a pair of school shoes.

So help us reach their goal to get 1,015 pairs of shoes onto children’s feet.

Let's make a difference.

And remember 100% of your donation will go to getting shoes.

Their feet may never forgive them. The children’s feet will certainly thank you.