THE Bishop of Kingston, Dr Martin Gainsborough, has completed his mission to run the full 268 miles of the Pennine Way in ten days, accompanied by his border collie, Jem. He has raised more than £35,000 for charity as a result.
The bishop and his dog completed the challenge on Sunday, having averaged a marathon a day across some of England’s wildest terrain — from Edale in the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm just over the Scottish border — with an incline of nearly 40,000 feet.
Dr Gainsborough said on Tuesday: “Running the equivalent of a marathon a day for ten days was pretty brutal as it is wild and mountainous terrain, and it is quite easy to lose the path.”
To say that he enjoyed the experience “would be overstating it”, he said, but to have made it through without injury was “deeply exhilarating”. He said: “Jem, who was magnificent throughout, is now enjoying a more sedentary pace in Southfields.”
The Bishop set out on 1 August with an initial target of raising £30,000 to improve education in the diocese of Matabeleland, in Zimbabwe, with which Southwark diocese is linked.
He had been inspired by the children and teachers he met on a visit to the region last year, where many children currently walk up to 10km to get to their nearest school — a dangerous journey which means that many, particularly girls, are unable to attend.
Martin Gainsborough/Diocese of SouthwarkCamping out on the Pennine Way
The money raised will help to build new schools like St Cecilia’s School in Lupane, which is still under construction, but already offers an education to local children.
Support along the way included a video, on the fifth day, of the Bishop of Matabeleland, the Rt Revd Cleophas Lunga, outside the cathedral with members of the Mothers’ Union and senior clergy of his diocese, singing heartily of journeying with Jesus.
Bishop Lunga said: “We are delighted that you are doing a very good, good thing, not only for your spirit and body, but also for us in Matabeleland.” The gifts donated would go “a long way to improving the lives of the young people in the villages”, he said.
Online donations have since reached £27,000, with a further £8000 donated offline. The total raised currently stands at £35,389, and further donations are welcome.
Dr Gainsborough concluded: “I have been amazed how my run has captured people’s imagination — reflected in a huge amount of support and prayers, and incredible generosity in fundraising.
“To be able to make a difference to the lives of children in our link diocese of Matabeleland so they no longer have to walk long distances to school means more than I can say and makes all the pain and heartache worth it. Thanks be to God!”
