Coasting Along for Water Aid

On Saturday, accompanied by group of intrepid bloggers (and their children) I took to the South Downs as an ambassador for Water Aid's Coast Along project. 

Our five mile circular route around the stunningly beautiful coastline had it all.
Excitement, fresh air, drama, sunshine and a little light rain but we completed our task with vigour and pride despite the challenges we met on the way.

My team mates Rosie Scribble, Nixdminx, Bumpwear Claire and Mummy in Manolos and all of their beautiful children aged from 3 to 11 were pretty amazing. Lots of new friendships were made and no one wanted to say their goodbyes when it was time to leave.

A very big thank you to Premier Inn for our accommodation. The staff at the Eastbourne hotel were lovely (they even packed us off with a bag full of emergency Haribo to keep our energy up on the walk) and to the Rabbits, you guys rock.

It isn't too late to support us. Our Just Giving page will remain active for a while longer and every single pound donated makes a difference.

Here's a few pics from our adventure and some info on Water Aid and why they need your support.

Leaving home...

Team Bunny...

Eva, Claire & Biba with Lo in stroller...

The beautiful view...

A bit tired....

 But a weekend by the sea needs a bag of shells...

About Water Aid

Water is essential for life, yet one in eight of the world’s population do not have access to it and almost 40% of the world’s population do not have adequate sanitation.

WaterAid is a leading independent organisation which, with its partners, uses practical, sustainable solutions to enable the world’s poorest people to gain access to safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation.

We work in Africa, Asia and the Pacific region and campaign globally with our partners to realise our vision of a world where everyone has access to these basic human rights.

We believe that the provision of safe water and sanitation is an essential first step in the climb out of poverty

Women and children walk on average 6km to often unprotected water sources, such as rivers or muddy dugouts.

In urban areas people have no choice but to collect water from polluted waterways or pay sky high prices to buy it from vendors. The average weight of water carried is 20 kg.

Carrying the heavy water containers back home is an exhausting task, taking up valuable time and energy.

This lack of access to clean water and safe sanitation impacts severely upon health, education, and income:

• 4000 children die needlessly every single day – more than Malaria, AIDS and Measles combined.
• Over half the hospital beds in Africa are filled with people suffering from preventable diarrhoeal diseases.
• Women have less time for productive activities because of time spent collecting water or caring for sick family members.
• Illness and lack of sanitation facilities in the classroom mean children are unable to go to school and miss out on an education.

Inadequate sanitation and water keeps people living in poverty. You can change this by joining Coast Along for WaterAid and help transform lives:

• £50 could pay for a handpump in Nepal, providing a community with life – changing clean water
• £100 could supply a village in Madagascar with the tools needed to maintain its water point long-term
• £150 could provide people in Ethiopia with a safe and hygienic composting latrine