Miles for Smiles

The final round up!

2009-12-27T17:49:00.003Z

I know! It’s almost three months since Miles for Smiles took place. At least it’s still 2009!

Why the delay in rounding off this blog and telling you how much it all made? There are many reasons; the final resolution of the auction lots took longer than I had expected – one was duplicated and one was sold on; I hadn’t anticipated that money would still be coming in by way of sponsorship and donations for the 500 miles Challenge – even now; I over-committed for October and November; and I didn’t realise how tired I’d be after the event. Also, I had wanted to have got round everyone who helped to thank them all personally before posting a general thank you but I am only about a third of the way through that process. If you haven’t heard from me directly, you will!

So what happened? Here’s a short report.

For a selection of photos from the day you can go to - www.gallery.me.com/robin.garrett/100041.

The 500 miles Challenge

Over 2,000 people took part in the Miles for Smiles 500 miles Challenge with one person or one team starting the same one mile route at the EICC every minute from 11.10am until 7.30pm. Lothian and Borders Police Pipe Band kicked off at 11.10am and throughout the day various well known faces took part including The Proclaimers, Fred MacAulay, Ian Rankin and his son, Kit, Kaye Adams, Nicola Sturgeon, John Swinney, Edi Stark, Colin McCredie and his daughter Maisie and Sir Tom Farmer. Many young children took part with their parents and older children came with their school friends. There was lots of colourful fancy dress and quite a few very physically challenging miles eg on roller skates, on stilts, human wheel barrow, juggling and three, four and five legged miles. Two friends of mine, Brian and Gillian, did a whole mile on space hoppers and couldn’t walk properly for days afterwards because their thighs were so sore! There was a superb atmosphere which was really added to by the series of young bands which I had playing in Festival Square all day. The early morning was dark, wet and windy – but from 11.10am the sun shone all day!

Lynne Cadenhead very kindly provided 12 Scottish Quest games (specially branded for Miles for Smiles) as prizes for the best 12 miles. In no particular order, they were won by: The Henderson Family, David and Sophie Morton, Mark Tungatt and Callum, Nick Abram and 7 soldiers, Alix Meekison, Centotre, Kilsyth Rotary, Jordanhill School Choir, John Sinclair, Duncan Wallace, Fettes Prep School, Fettes Senior School.

Alex Salmond couldn’t come on the day but he did his mile on the Wednesday before the event – with Miss Scotland! Everyone who did a mile signed a giant Saltire which was pre-signed by Sir Sean Connery as patron of the event. The Saltire, covered in 2,000 signatures, is now hanging on the main office wall of the 500 miles Centre in Lilongwe, Malawi - see the photo! I took it out with me when I visited Malawi in November.

As well as being great fun, the 500 miles Challenge well and truly washed its face financially because a lot of the people who did miles collected sponsorship. As I said, money is still coming in. Better than that though, I have had lots of emails and notes saying how much people enjoyed taking part – so I think I’ll probably do it again – but not with a ball for 730 on the same day!

The Miles for Smiles ball

Having said that the ball went off very well and it did raise a lot of money! The Proclaimers were the headline act. The dance floor was full from the minute Craig and Charlie came on and with 730 guests, it felt as if the building was going to take off! We also had a fantastic set from Jim Diamond and more dance music from The Full Tin Tin who, as an amateur band who play for charity “for fun”, were brilliant. Fred MacAulay was as entertaining as he was professional and made everyone relax and get into the spirit of the evening. The EICC produced an outstanding meal, especially considering the numbers, and Nick Nairn demonstrated the cooking of part of it with a lot of humour - and patience!The auction was remarkably successful given the times we are living in – raising about £90,000 – and as a result of wonderfully generous donations from some very kind people, I was able to offer a substantial prize for every table in a free prize draw. So there was lots of fun and variety and I think that helped secure a few donations and commitments on the night.

Total raised

Including the profit from ball ticket sales, donations, sponsorship for the 500 miles Challenge, One Smile commitments for the next five years and Gift Aid, the total amount raised by Miles for Smiles is close to £250,000 - with money still coming in.

Obviously this gives me a lot of comfort that my commitments to 500 miles’ three supported projects can be fulfilled but it is also enough money to allow me to consider a fourth project - which I hope will be a brand new prosthetic and orthotic clinic in Mzuzu in the north of Malawi. Please have a look at my updated website at www.500miles.co.uk for up to date news about the work of 500 miles and some new pictures of some of our patients.

Thank you!

Miles for Smiles was the result of the generosity and kindness of literally hundreds of people - too many to name but you know who you are – and so do I! Thank you!

The Bands

2009-09-26T15:16:00.005+01:00

A week today these are the bands that will be playing in Festival Square, all of them giving their time and talents to Miles for Smiles for free. Thank you!

11.00am The Escape

11.25am NeoN

12.00noon Jed Milroy

12.35pm 108iotta

1.10pm The Dischords

1.50pm Jakil

2.55pm Hunter

3.55pm Hunting for Melvin

4.30pm Hold the Suspect

5.10pm Run Lucky Free

5.45pm Beluga

Finish – 6.30pm

Auction prizes (that's Ally in the photo!)

2009-09-26T00:33:00.003+01:00

Last week I went to Blairlogie, near Stirling to go over the auction lots for the ball with Ally Logan – my brilliant auctioneer! I have not actually seen Ally or his wife, Carole, since he did the auction at the last (and only other) fundraising event I did where he broke a few records. Ally is a livestock auctioneer and his style is very different from Sotheby’s – which is just what we need!

Ally and Carole’s two charming daughters Natasha and Corrina were sent to the playroom while we decided on the order of the lots over egg and ham sandwiches and Carole took notes!

These are 10 of the 12 lots.

Auction lots for Miles for Smiles

Breakfast with Lorraine at GMTV

GMTV, Lorraine Kelly and Starwood Hotels and Resorts

Lorraine invites two of you to breakfast with her after a tour of the GMTV studio and a behind the scenes look at the programme in transmission. You’ll meet some of the GMTV famous faces as well as the team behind the cameras and you’ll see how the programme is put together.

Since you’ll have to be up quite early, you’ll be staying overnight in London in a room at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel but if you are happy to wait until it has been completed, you can stay at the first “W” hotel in the UK (expected completion August 2010).

M&S Christmas Dinner for 8 served by the M&S development chef

Marks & Spencer

This is not just any Christmas dinner. This is an M&S Christmas dinner!

M&S’s Development Chef, Blair Smethurst, has put together the ultimate M&S menu. For 8 people, it includes an exciting selection of canapés, a three course meal with all of the traditional seasonal components and classics that M&S is famous for, mince pies, champage, wines and after dinner drinks.

You can serve this extravaganza yourself at any time from November until 5^th January 2010 - or if you would prefer, Blair will come to your house and cook and serve the meal himself on any Saturday in November or on Saturdays 5^th or 12^th of December 2009!

Prestonfield Dinner served by Andy Irvine, Kirsty Wark and Fred MacAulay

James Thomson, Andy Irvine, Fred MacAulay and Kirsty Wark

Enjoy a delicious dinner for 10 guests in one of the sought after private dining rooms at Prestonfield.

Following a champagne reception with canapés, you’ll enjoy a magnificent four course dinner accompanied by wines chosen by James Thomson from his own private cellar.

Your meal and drinks will be served by the glamorous and witty dream team, Kirsty Wark and her kitchen bitches, Andy Irvine and Fred MacAulay who will later join the company.

A “piece” of the Canny Man’s

The Canny Man’s

Immortalise yourself by naming a smorrebrod sandwich or an ice cream on the Canny Man’s menu. Rename an existing sandwich – Number 69, El Duque, could be yours! – or create a new one in consultation with Gloria. You could use your own first or last name, or your partner’s or both of your names or your children’s – or something else altogether.

The only other way to achieve this status is to be a member of the Kerr clan!

Six of you can have the naming ceremony for the smorrebrod or ice cream at the Canny Man’s with a magnum of champagne and a round of your new sandwich or ice cream.

Advance bids have been invited on the Canny Man’s notice board and the highest bidders may join the auction by telephone.

From Jolomo to you

John Lowrie Morrison

Own your own exquisite piece of art, “Wee croft Lochdon Mull”, personalised with an individual message to you from the celebrated artist himself. The painting is 9” by 9” in a gilt frame under glass.

Diamonds and their stories are forever

Alexander McCall Smith & Hamilton and Inches

“Old drawers, rarely opened, contain all sorts of mundane bits and
pieces: letters from forgotten friends, old bills, dud batteries,
banknotes brought back from foreign holidays, paper clips, half-filled
notebooks; they seldom contain small packets of diamonds." So starts Alexander McCall Smith’s short story, “Unfinished Business” about the diamonds at the centre of this lot.

You can bid for a packet of 27 brilliant cut diamonds with a total weight of 2.93 carats and a total retail value of £6,500 (including a half carat brilliant cut diamond worth £1,500) and have them worked into a piece of jewellery of your imagination and design* by Hamilton and Inches’ craftsmen in their unique workshop in George Street, Edinburgh.

But you will also be bidding for the original manuscript of the story behind these diamonds. This story has been specially written by Alexander McCall Smith for 500 miles to explain how the diamonds came to be in Hamilton and Inches’ possession and available for auction tonight.

Alexander McCall Smith will sign the original manuscript and the packet in which the diamonds are discovered in the story and he will visit the Hamilton and Inches workshop with you to see what you decide to create.

Alexander McCall Smith has given the publishing rights of the story to 500 miles and the story will be published.

With their own provenance in fiction written by one of the world’s leading authors, the piece of jewellery these diamonds become, will be a unique collectors’ item.

Advance bids have been invited on the Scotland on Sunday website and the highest bidders may join the auction by telephone.

* Within limits!

Rebus 20

Ian Rankin

In 2007, to commemorate 20 years of Ian Rankin’s world famous Edinburgh detective, Inspector Rebus, the Orcadian Distillery of Highland Park bottled a 20-year-old single cask malt whisky called “Rebus 20”. Ian Rankin selected the cask himself. Only 150 bottles of this limited edition malt were poured of which a few were given to Ian. He has four left. You can bid for one of them tonight. Ian will personally sign the bottle for you tonight.

This is a once only chance to buy a piece of literary and malt whisky history.

A cathedral to Scotch whisky with Ian Rankin

The Scotch Whisky Experience and Ian Rankin

A unique opportunity for 6 guests to enjoy a tasting of some of Scotland’s most sought after whiskies in the unforgettable surroundings of The Scotch Whisky Experience next to Edinburgh Castle.

The tasting, conducted by whisky expert Julie Trevisan Hunter, will be hosted by Ian Rankin in the opulent surroundings of the whisky vault which houses the World’s Largest Collection of Scotch Whisky. Glass lined walls encase a glimmering and bewildering selection of almost 3500 unique and individual bottles. The whisky vault was purpose built for the arrival of the stunning Diageo Claive Vidiz Scotch Whisky Collection and was opened by the First Minister on 1^st May 2009. It has been admired by thousands of visitors who have made heir own “whisky pilgrimage” to enjoy a dram in this unique setting.

The tasting will run for approximately 1 and 1/2 hours and will include 4 Scotch whiskies.

Jeff Bland at One Royal Circus with a special mystery guest

Jeff Bland, One Royal Circus (Mike and Susan) and a special mystery guest

Entertain 16 clients or friends with a spectacular night to remember at the sumptuous and stylish town house, One Royal Circus, Edinburgh.

Michelin-starred chef of Number One Restaurant at the Balmoral Hotel is offering his services for one night only at One Royal Circus to design, cook and serve a wonderful tasting menu for you and your guests which will be served to you round one large table. All appropriate drinks will be provided to your taste.

There will be a very special guest at your table whose identity will be revealed at the ball.

Zambia - two ways!

Miranda Curtis, Farside Africa, Robin Pope’s Nkwali Camp, Island Bush Camp, Eight Reedbuck Hotel and 500 miles

Two of you will fly business class from Heathrow to Lusaka.

Part of this unique trip is a week long safari holiday in two camps, Nkwali (4 nights) and Island Bush Camp (3 nights), in the Luangwa Valley which is one of the last unspoilt wilderness areas in Africa, and a wonderful wildlife sanctuary. Its 9000 square kilometres of ox bow lagoons, woodland and plains host huge concentrations of game including elephant, buffalo, leopard, lion, giraffe, hippo and over 400 species of birds.

The other part is an optional opportunity to volunteer at (or just to visit) one of the rural destinations in Zambia in which 500 miles is involved. This part of the trip can be as long as a full week or as short as you like. We will tailor the volunteering opportunity to your talents and aspirations. It could be around health, education, physical work – or something else.

You can choose the order in which you enjoy your dual Zambian experience. Within Zambia you will be flown between destinations in 3 to 6 seater planes which is a breathtaking experience in itself. Before your business class flight home, you’ll spend a night in the Eight Reedbuck Hotel in Lusaka.

All bed and board is included but the accommodation when staying in a remote rural location could be quite basic.

You might buy this lot for yourself and partner/friend/child – but would you also consider buying it as a once in a lifetime experience for your children in a gap year or summer holiday – or as a prize/reward for a youth competition?

Must be taken in May or June 2010 with at least 8 weeks’ notice.

Writing the place cards

2009-09-24T12:38:00.002+01:00

While Katie is packing the 730 goody bags, my Mum and Dad will be painstakingly hand writing the 730 place cards!

We’ve decided to go for just Christian names!

Fortunately the lists of guests at each table have started to come through so he shouldn’t have to do more than about 80 a day.

Thanks Mum and Dad!

Flower power

2009-09-23T22:48:00.004+01:00

The flower arrangements for the tables were finalised this week. The tables will have Leith’s standard white linen but all of the tables will have a runner across thenm made out of the same colourful African cotton hat the goody bags have been made from. It’s mainly cornflower blue - which is one of the Miles for Smiles colours.

The vases, which will be set on the runners, will be plain glass and low. Half will be round like a gold fish bowl and half, rectangular. The flowers themselves will be wound round the inside of the vases and very simple: a single protea flower which is the national flower of Malawi and two stems of thistles representing Scotland – and some bare grasses. This was Charlotte Kissack’s idea and I really like it!

Planet Flowers have done me a huge favour in providing the flowers and their service at less than cost. I am really grateful for that Rachel!

Invitations are out!

2009-09-23T22:45:00.004+01:00

I was delighted that the EICC was able to get the invitations sent out to table hosts and organisers today along with advance notice of the auction lots.

I am really pleased with the invitations and place cards which have been designed by Design Links – now becoming Thinktastic Creative. Andrew McKay, the designer, has adapted the design of the Miles for Smiles website to create them both. We had talked about doing something to signify the joining of Scotland and Africa – using an echo of the thistle and protea flower arrangement but it became clear that simple was best and that we should be using the great work that Andrew had already done.

That’s the invitation in the picture. The place cards have the 500 miles and Miles for Smiles logos on the front where the names go and there are four different backs with a different set of moving figures along them.

The invitations and place cards were all printed for Miles for Smiles free of charge by Digital Print Solutions. Thank you David Selkirk!

Katie and the goody bags.

2009-09-23T22:42:00.001+01:00

There will be at least 730 people at the ball – that’s a lot of goody bags and a lot of packing!

My friend Katie Morton volunteered to do this job months ago – when it seemed like a day’s job and quite fun. The reality of 730 of several items, some quite big and heavy, being deposited on your door step hit home when we saw what 730 vouchers looked like and how heavy they are!

The goody bags themselves are a gift from 500 miles - see my blog of 12^th September - but this is what guests will find inside the bags:

A bergamot & geranium boxed organic soap OR a “just grapefruit” shower gel – Arran Aromatics

A £20 off voucher for Austin Reed – Austin Reed

A £20 off voucher for Country Casuals – Country Casuals

A £20 off voucher for Viyella - Viyella

A bottle of original or pear cider - Magners

A packet of Percy Pigs or reverse Percy Pigs – Marks & Spencer

A caramel log and a caramel wafer - Tunnock

A CD – Real Radio

A £10 off voucher for Cheynes Hairdressing – Cheynes Hairdressing

A special offer from One Spa – One Spa at The Sheraton Grand Hotel

While 730 bags of Percy Pigs sounds quite good to me (keen to see what reverse Percy Pigs are like), the sheer volume of all this stuff is not a joke. More than 60 boxes of 12 bottles of cider is daunting.

Hoping that the bags themselves arrive from Malawi by the beginning of next week, the plan is to bring in some reinforcements and get everything bar the bottles packed by Thursday night. Robin will then collect everything in a van including the cases of bottles and bring it all to the EICC where we can then add the bottles to the bags.

I hope Katie is still smiling at the end of this……

You dancing?

2009-09-23T07:57:00.004+01:00

My dance band for later on at the ball – after The Proclaimers and after Jim Diamond – is The Full Tin Tin. It’s a nine piece cover band which can turn its hand to a rocked up ceilidh tune or two - and which is distinguished by all its members being lawyers at Thorntons in Dundee! This is what I want to include in the programme about them – but am slightly worried about how and where to squeeze it in.

Otherwise known as 'that famous bunch of lawyers from Dundee' The Full Tin Tin are partners and associates at Thorntons Law LLP, a leading Scottish law firm. Formed in 2005 for a one-off gig The Full Tin Tin now raise thousands of pounds each year for local and national charities through events like this, and private functions. Dundee's best kent band after Snow Patrol and The View. For booking enquiries please contact cnicol@thorntons-law.co.uk.

I know The Full Tin Tin because Craig Nicol, the band’s leader, is a friend through Robin. A few months ago Robin came in from a late night and told me he had found the music for the after ball party – Craig’s band. I assumed it was drink talking but after a series of phone calls I found myself driving to Dundee to the Friary at 9pm to listen to them – as a possible band for the ball. If you knew how ill-equipped I am to assess a band, you’d be laughing! I thought they were fantastic but I had already put feelers out to a number of professional bands and didn’t know what to do. One day I just realised that it was ridiculous to have a friend with a fabulous band, willing and able to come to Edinburgh to play for free - and not grab them!

The running order is perfect for this kind of evening – lots of favourites and there are a few surprises in store!

If you are wondering, the name of the band has something to do with what their hair looks like after an energetic gig – “a full Tin Tin”! I’m really indebted to you all guys!

Lots to do!

2009-09-23T07:52:00.002+01:00

There has been a slight gap in my blog entries because Robin (husband) has been away and he puts them on line for me. Some might say that he needed to be on the other side of the Atlantic from me for a few days!

The goody bags are on their way from Malawi and the Saltire, hopefully signed by Sir Sean, is in Glasgow and coming to me later today.

For the ball, I am at the stage of finalising the auction lots which I will post here on Friday this week. That means they are also nearly ready for the programme and the vouchers can be made up.

I also need to finalise my list of 72 table prizes for the prize draw, collect quite a number of them and make up vouchers for others - and then label them up. It needs to be done right now because it all needs to go into the programme for the ball.

I have also had to assemble all the pictures to illustrate the auction prizes on the screens at the ball and all the corporate logos for the screens and the programme.

I’m trying to tell myself that it is good that the printing of the programme is forcing the pace on these things because it should allow me to spend some time at the weekend and next week getting enough people registered for the 500 miles Challenge.

The 500 mile Challenge is proving hard work! Not that I ever plan to do this again, but if I was I would change two things. The first is that I would put the register on line so that people could see for themselves where there are free places in the register and the second is that people should be able to fill in an application and send it on line instead of having to print it off and post it or scan and email it. I decided aganst that because it would have been expensive but it woud have been worth it in hinsight!

I have almost finalised my list of bands which will be playing in Festival Square all day. I’ll post that timetable shortly too.

Music maestro please!

2009-09-16T08:14:00.002+01:00

Back in March when I was first thinking about what the 500 miles Challenge would be like in Festival Square and Conference Square, I thought it would be ideal if we could have some music to keep the “one milers” going and to attract and entertain an audience. When I mentioned this to Tom O’Brien at Edinburgh Council, he explained that any band platform would need to be covered and that there are an awful lot of the restrictions on the erection of freestanding structures in public places. Not one to raise obstacles without also offering a way round them, Tom also told me about “curtainsider lorries” and gave me Rab Randall’s mobile number saying he might be able to help me.

I called Rab out of the blue not knowing what to expect and gave him my chat about what I wanted to do. I mentioned a “curtainsider” without even knowing that it is a type of large truck where the sides are “curtained” for ease of loading and unloading – but which is often used as a makeshift stage because they are stable and covered.

The story of how I eventually hired a curtainsider for Miles for Smiles on Saturday 3 October with all of the necessary insurance is too horrible and boring to even start to tell you. Only today did I finally get all the permissions I need and all the boxes ticked! I hope it’s worth it!

The fantastic part of the story is about the amazing team which has made and will make it all possible - and given me an education in outdoor event management! Rab of Backbone Production and Event Engineering is the main man. He brought in Steph Fleming of EFX Audio to do the sound and Stevie Mail of FS Lighting to do the lights. He told them I had “nae money” and bless them all, they said they’d provide equipment and their time all day on Miles for Smiles Saturday for “nae money”! Another of Rab’s contacts is hiring me the fixed back line for the day. Steph’s insurance broker has helped me get public liability insurance and Steph is arranging for my curtainsider to be driven from Forfar (I said it was a horrible and boring story) on the Friday. These guys are going to do all the set up and stage management all day.

What can I say?! I am partly typing this to convince myself that it is all true. There are some unbelievably kind people out there and I have been very lucky to bump into some of the best! Thank you Tom, Rab, Steph and Stevie! I hate to think how many pints I owe you!

I’ll tell you the running order of the bands when it is finally fixed in a day or two.

More media!

2009-09-15T22:13:00.000+01:00

Not the most flattering picture ever! I rang Suzi Mair at STV yesterday to tell her about Miles for Smiles in case she was interested in covering any part of it. I was delighted when she asked me to come into the studio in George Street today to trail the Miles for Smiles 500 miles Challenge on the “east” section of tonight’s news. She also put the details of the Challenge onto the website where I believe it will stay for a few days. This is the link:

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/east-central/123189-charity-aims-to-raise-money-for-africans-who-have-lost-limbs/

Well that’s newspapers, radio and television. I hope it helps to attract participants and an audience!

Hitting the airwaves

2009-09-14T22:56:00.001+01:00

I was working late last night on the risk assessment for the Miles for Smiles 500 miles Challenge. It was quite surreal suddenly to hear the Miles for Smiles 500 miles Challenge being described on the radio with The Proclaimers’ “I would walk 500 miles” playing in the background.

I first asked Boss Man Jay if Real Radio would support Miles for Smiles quite a few months ago. He said it would and he’s been true to his word. The jingle and entry on the Real Radio events page are perfect! I just hope that they attracts lots of people to sign up for mile slots!

Jay has signed up to walk his mile in the 500 miles Challenge with Dawn and Jim and Chrissie Diamond with Jake the dog at 12.30. I am hopeful that I might persuade Ewen and Roughy to do a mile for me – Ewen in a Hibs strip and Roughy in a Hearts strip – or perhaps as Allana? I reckon that might raise a bit of sponsorship!

Real Radio are also coming to the Miles for Smiles ball and putting a CD in all my goody bags!

Thank you Jay!

UPS

2009-09-12T10:53:00.002+01:00

I was first introduced to UPS by W L Gore & Associates (UK) Limited when Denise Tracey was doing her first ever triathlon for 500 miles (raising an amazing £1,700). Denise works for Gore in Livingston and through one of her colleagues, Cathye Elvin, UPS sent a large shipment of nearly new shoes to Zambia for me in April this year at no cost to 500 miles.

I knew that Charlie May and George McConnell at UPS were great guys then but they have really come to my rescue for Miles for Smiles!

As you’ll see in my earlier blog today, I’m having 740 goody bags and 72 table runners made in Malawi for the Miles for Smiles ball. By the time I was in a position to press the button on the manufacture of the goods, I was – and still am - very short of time to get them back to Scotland in time to be packed by 3^rd October. A few weeks ago we asked for a quote from DHL in Malawi to carry everything to Scotland. The quote was over £4000! It would almost have been cheaper to send two people to Malawi to collect them and pay the excess baggage! I went to UPS and got a quote in 12 hours for what will be around £550. UPS are helping me with all of the importing formalities at this end and have told me what I need to do to be exempt from tax – but they are also helping the Malawian textile company with the exporting requirements, such as a certificate of origin for the goods.

And then when I suddenly got the green light to send my saltire to Sir Sean for signing in the Bahamas (see my blog of 2^nd September), of course I went straight to UPS. They have arranged for a courier for me at “cost” and with minimum hassle. The plan is that the same courier will drop off the flag and then pick it up and repackage it for the return journey.

I have never even met George or Charlie but they’ve given me so much support in such a professional way. It’s easy to take an invisible service like carrying for granted but, although I am still holding breath for the safe delivery on time of the goody bags and signed flag, I couldn’t have done without UPS in the last few weeks!

Very special Goody bags

2009-09-12T09:03:00.001+01:00

Several months ago I was talking to Susan Dalgety about what I might use as the bags for the goody bags for the Miles for Smiles ball. She reminded me that it should be something recyclable – and then suggested that it should even be re-usable as a bag. We were then contemplating a cotton/canvas shopper when Susan suddenly said how good it would be if we could have them made in Malawi from colourful African cotton. Fantastic idea! – and Susan had the right contacts too. I’ll spare you the tortuous machinations that have filled the time between now and then - but 740 shopper style bags in bright blue and orange are currently being manufactured in Blantyre, Malawi – and that’s one in the picture!

I have also commissioned 72 runners for the tables at the ball to be made from the same material. Ball guests will only collect their goody bags as they leave but I hope that making the runners from the same fabric will mean that re-using the goody bags will always be evocative of the mood of the evening.

The bags and runners are being made by a small Malawian textile company called Nzika Arts (www.nzika.com) owned and run by a young Malawian couple called Mwai Namaona and Sheena Chilimampunga. This is their very first export from Malawi. They said,

As young Malawians we are very proud of our heritage and our culture. When we set up our company six years ago we wanted to produce the very best of modern Malawi design, using traditional motifs and colours in a contemporary way.

The relationship between Scotland and Malawi is very important to us. We visited your beautiful country in 2006 as part of a trade delegation and are delighted to make a contribution to the 500 miles ball. The work of 500 miles will transform the lives of many of our fellow Malawians, so thank you for your support.

We hope that you enjoy your Chitenje bag and that you will carry this small piece of Malawi with pride.

Thank you Susan! Now we just have to get them here in time!

Time for tea!

2009-09-10T08:02:00.003+01:00

Alexander McCall Smith very kindly introduced me to Henrietta Lovell who owns The Rare Tea Company (www.rareteacompany.com). Sandy told me about Henrietta and her rare tea business because he named the new black tea which The Rare Tea Company is about to import from Malawi into the UK - Lost Malawi Tea. He has also written a collection of short stories to go inside the tins of Lost Malawi tea.

Originally we had thought that Henrietta might donate a raffle prize of some Lost Malawi Tea - but then we decided that it would be much better to serve it at the ball to reinforce the slightly African theme to the meal – see my blog of 17 August below. I also plan to serve Malawian coffee at the ball – probably from The Coffee Project (www.thecoffeeproject.org.uk).

Since Lost Malawi Tea will not actually arrive in the UK until later this autumn, Henrietta has had to arrange for a special advance package to be sent for the ball! She has also been in discussion with Leith’s at the EICC about how to serve Lost Malawi tea to perfection! Thank you very much Henrietta.

This is Henrietta in the Lost Malawi Tea plantation.

Get eating everyone!

2009-09-09T15:13:00.003+01:00

Centotre always has cakes on their minds so they’ve decided to launch a new menu dedicated to cupcakes with a donation being made to charity for every sale. The Cupcake Caffe at Centotre and at Zanzero will try and support as many charities as it can. I’m delighted that 500 miles has been chosen as their first official charity. For every cupcake sold, 500 miles will receive 10p. This is obviously fantastic news. I am as pleased with the association as with the 10p’s!

And Centotre are going to supply a mini cupcake for every guest at the Miles for Smiles ball to have with their tea or coffee!

Carina is working on a cupcake themed raffle prize too – which is lovely!

4 weeks to go!!!

2009-09-05T11:07:00.002+01:00

Most of my time and energies for the next four weeks are going to be devoted to getting 500 people or teams to sign up to do a mile in the Miles for Smiles 500 miles Challenge. I am so grateful to Tom Little and Sandra Dick at the Evening News for covering the Challenge so fully and clearly in Friday’s paper.

If you are reading this and haven’t signed up for a mile, please do! You just need to email me your preferred starting minute between 11.10am and 7.29pm to olivia@500miles.co.uk

The raffle takes shape!

2009-09-04T09:15:00.002+01:00

Having sold all the tables for the ball, the last couple of weeks have been filled with securing auction lots which “money cannot buy”, many of the 73 raffle prizes I need and some goodies to put in the goody bags.

I still have quite a few parts of the auction prizes to get and I still need to find 25 - 30 raffle prizes and a few more bits and pieces for the goody bags but I think I’ll get there on time. People have been extraordinarily generous with some prizes being offered without my even asking.

My sister is the brand director for the Austin Reed group (Austin Reed, Country Casuals and Viyella). I have two brilliant raffle prizes from her. One is a £1,000 makeover at Austin Reed and the other is a £1,000 makeover at Viyella!

And she has given me a super offer on all three of the brands for my goody bags.

Thanks Ros and Nick!

The Proclaimers

2009-09-03T16:52:00.002+01:00

500 miles is named after the lyrics of The Proclaimers’ famous anthem, “I would walk 500 miles” – so Craig and Charlie’s support has always been very important and valuable to me. Right from the start up of 500 miles, The Proclaimers said that they would play a concert for the charity when we could find a suitable date. After much to-ing and fro-ing with Kenny MacDonald, the manager of the band, I really thought that this opportunity was going to slip into 2010 - or beyond - but around the end of February this year a window suddenly opened up for Saturday 3^rd October. It is sandwiched in between the US tour which ends on 25^th of September in San Fransisco and the UK tour which starts on the 9^th of October - all following on the release of their latest album, Notes & Rhymes. I know how lucky I am!

As well as playing a full set at the Miles for Smiles ball, Craig and Charlie are also going to walk one of my 500 miles in the Miles for Smiles 500 miles Challenge - at some point in the afternoon of the 3^rd of October.

Today I was in Festival Square with Craig and Charlie checking out the mile route - for a photograph for the Evening News.

Signing the Saltire

2009-09-02T07:45:00.002+01:00

It’s not every day you take a call from Sir Sean! He rang to say that he had my letter asking him to sign the saltire I was talking about in my last blog so I am now working on getting it to him in the Bahamas and back to Edinburgh in time for the 3^rd of October. I am delighted that the saltire will be first signed by the patron of Miles for Smiles – and then by everyone who does a mile for a smile!

Flying the flag in Malawi

2009-08-19T23:24:00.003+01:00

I was thinking about giving a certificate to everyone who took part in the 500 miles Challenge – but this was going to be a huge hassle and I doubted that many “certificates” would make it home without being lost or torn.

It was actually a friend Dale Strachan’s idea but I now have a much better way of symbolising the convertion of “miles” to “smiles” - and of including everyone who takes part in the 500 miles Challenge.

My husband Robin has ordered a huge saltire which is just the right size for the largest wall in the office of the 500 miles Centre in Lilongwe, Malawi. I am going to ask every participant in the 500 miles Challenge to sign it after they have completed their mile. The First Minster is going to sign and I have asked Sir Sean Connery to sign too as patron of Miles for Smiles.

After Miles for Smiles I will send the saltire signed by all the people who did “miles” in Scotland to the place in Malawi where their efforts will produce “smiles”!

Food time!

2009-08-17T18:05:00.002+01:00

This is my favourite bit of organising an event – the menu tasting!

On Thursday I went down into the kitchens of the EICC to taste the menu for the dinner at the ball. Present were Nick Nairn and Leith’s head chef, Iain McLean (in the photo), Rhona and Gail also from Leith’s and Tanja from the EICC.

The menu is Scottish but each course has just a nod to Africa. The starter is salmon fishcakes with chermoula and a chilli salad. The main course is loin of lamb with an African spice rub and we have raspberry crème brulee cranachan with cashew nut shortbread for pudding. The Scottish oatmeal and African cashew nuts are very complimentary. There wasn’t much of that left….

I have to say that I’ll be torn between sticking to the main menu and the vegetarian options which are marinated feta with couscous to start and a delicious and elaborate walnut and squash main course.

We’ll be serving Malawian tea and coffee too!

In consultation with Nick, Leith’s had produced a wonderful menu. A few minor adjustments were made – like adding a dollop of mash to the main course in case people need some carbohydrate – but that’s the food sorted!

We discussed Nick’s demonstration of the spice rub for the lamb and pinned him down for a mile in the 500 miles Challenge - making meringues. He’ll start at 7.15pm in his whites. Nick is going to make African themed meringues with brown sugar and a mango cream and we hope to bake them in time for dinner!

Raffle time!

2009-08-14T19:28:00.002+01:00

Some very exciting raffle and auction prizes are starting to develop!

Stephen Paterson of Hamilton and Inches has offered an absolutely gorgeous amethyst and diamond pendant pave set in 18ct white gold. It is valued at a cool £3,000. It will be one of the star prizes in the raffle. That’s it glittering in the picture.

The raffle is free to enter and the idea is that each table will win a lovely prize but that 12 tables will win something very special. The first draw will be done at each table during the meal to find out which person round the table has won the prize. Then that person will draw a number which will tell them what they have won. If they draw a number it will correspond to a prize on a list in the programme but if they draw a star, they will have to wait to find out which of the 12 star prizes they have won.

My mum is making all the stars and numbers and bags to draw them from!

I have also been talking to Stephen about a wonderful and utterly unique auction prize around a small collection of diamonds! Watch this space!

2009-08-11T14:54:00.001+01:00

I did my legal training with Louise Milligan. She is an advocate but now has a wonderful media company with her husband, Justin Adams. It’s called LA Media – www.lamedia.co.uk.

I asked Louise and Justin if they would make me a short DVD about what 500 miles actually does to show at the ball. Just a day or two later I was in their office in Drummond Place explaining what I was looking for and handing over my amateur photos and ideas for music to Jude Lightbody who was going to make my film. I did realise that my ideas for music were not impressing Jude or Justin but I didn’t catch on to what they were already imagining instead.

Just 4 days later – on Friday last week – I was back but this time in the full professional editing suite hidden in the basement – to watch the first run though with Jude – and also Mike Jameson, the music man. It was brilliant. They had my concept taped and the tone and message bang on. The best bit however was the sound track. I reckon my selection of cheesy pop songs playing on the word “smile” hadn’t even been downloaded and instead Mike had composed me something unique to accompany my stills and the graphics.

Today LA Media delivered a further developed version of the DVD so that I can work on what words I’d like to appear but amazingly, it is almost there! It is fantastic working with such talented people!

After Miles for Smiles you’ll be able to see the film on the 500 miles website.

2009-08-08T09:52:00.002+01:00

I haven’t written for a while because I have been so busy just keeping up with what’s urgent.

I seem to spend the weekdays visiting people to ask for help of various kinds of things and the evenings doing more of the same or following up on what I’ve been doing during the day. I can make some progress at the weekends but it’s hard to catch people on the phone then.

I am really starting to question the wisdom of trying to organise the 500 miles Challenge on the same day as the ball!

I don’t think I have mentioned yet that I am also planning to have a modest band platform in Festival Square all day during the 500 miles Challenge onto which school bands and other young bands will be invited to play short sets. I am hoping that some of these bands will also play acoustically for me - for a mile! I have been getting extraordinarily generous advice and assistance from Rab Randall with this! The big issue is insurance to cover this activity – whether I can get it - and what it will cost.

I don’t mean to sound gloomy in the slightest. Support has been overwhelming and I’ve had a very positive response from most people I have approached.

The Miles for Smiles ball has sold out already meaning that there should be over 720 guests on the night. That makes me wonder if the ticket price was maybe too low but I guess I’d rather have a full room!

I am working up some very special auction prizes – which money definitely could not buy. It’s actually very good fun dreaming up experiences that guests might be tempted to pay for – if harder working out how to make them a reality.

I have a good number of amazing raffle prizes but a long way to go on that mission because I need a prize for each of the 72 tables – including 12 special ones.

It certainly exciting collecting the mail these days – and for that I have to thank Morningside Mail Boxes Etc who have given 500 miles a free mail box – with box number “500”!

Back home - briefly

2009-07-11T12:38:00.003+01:00

I’m just back from an amazing, successful and inspiring 10 days in Zambia which all went according to plan. Arifa Farooq from BBC Scotland was with me filming the whole trip. I am really glad that it has been recorded because I’ll have some proof that the experience was as good as it was!

John Jellis and his wife, Jane, looked after us very well when we were in Lusaka. The only surprise was the cold and the need for a real fire every night! It was considerably warmer in Scotland the whole time we were away!

Being flown in a small plane at low heights is wonderful because of what you can see on the ground. The flight up the Zambezi from Mongu to Chitokoloki was breathtaking.

I got financial matters sorted out with Sister Egidia at the Zambian Italian Orthopaedic Hospital (ZIOH) and we reached an agreement about future training.

But the highlight was of course seeing people of all ages queuing up to see the prosthetist we had brought with us from ZIOH, watching them being fitted with the legs and other devices he had made and brought with him and seeing follow up patients walking about quite happily and confidently on prostheses and orthoses provided by 500 miles. It costs us on average about £100 to provide a device in a remote location. It’s hard to contemplate that some of our patients have managed on crutches for up to 10 years for the lack of a service.

I have a week’s holiday in Spain now and then I have to hit the ground running with Miles for Smiles to make sure it raises the money I need to continue this work!

On my travels!

2009-06-30T16:36:00.001+01:00

I left for Zambia yesterday afternoon so I’ll not be blogging for a while.

I flew to Lusaka via Heathrow and arrived this morning. I have the rest of today and the whole of Wednesday to catch up with John Jellis (the surgeon/pilot who runs FlySpec) and Sister Egida who runs the orthopaedic workshop that 500 miles supports at the Zambian Italian Orthopaedic Hospital (“ZIOH”). There is a lot to talk about and get sorted out.

But then I am going on a three day/two night trip to Mukinge which is a few hours away - in the tiny plane in the photo! Patrick, one of the prosthestists/orthotists who works at ZIOH has already cast a number of patients from Mukinge and on this trip he’ll be bringing them the devices he has made from the casts and he will fit them. John will have his usual lengthy list of operations. I’m very squeamish but I hope to see some of that work too and to understand the conditions under which John works.

We will be back at John’s farm for Saturday night and Sunday but on Monday we go off again for one day and night in Mongu and then straight on for another day and night at Chitokoloki. This will teach me something about the relentless and gruelling pace at which John and his FlySpec partner, Goran Jovic, work – but also about the impact FlySpec is having on people’s lives. I am nervous but very happy to be going!

All Bar One

2009-06-26T12:30:00.003+01:00

I visited Innes Wishart and Euan Glen, the managers of All Bar One to check that on the day of Miles for Smiles they would not mind moving the tables and chairs which they have outside their premises - and which sit right in the path of the one mile route for the 500 miles Challenge. They told me that the light ones would be no trouble to move - but most of the furniture is designed to be so heavy that it doesn’t move.

I am really grateful that they and Essential Edinburgh have agreed that if I can bring four strong men to the site on the day, I can have them stacked a short distance away. Phew! It was nearly going to have been a one mile obstacle course. Thanks for your co-operation guys! And thanks for the offer of a raffle prize. We just have to work on the All Bar One mile now!

Ready, steady - cook!

2009-06-25T17:21:00.005+01:00

It’s very hard to get a window with Nick Nairn but Gail from Leith’s at the EICC managed to pin him down and we had a very successful conference call with him and Leith’s own chef, Iain McLean, about the menu for the ball.

It’s early stages but we have a plan. The idea is to serve good quality Scottish food with just a nod to Malawi and Zambia which are the two countries where 500 miles operates. For example, we are thinking of a starter of fish cakes made with Tilapia – which is a white fish indigenous to Malawi and Zambia. We just have to find a sustainable source. For the main course the hint of Africa is likely to be an African spice rub and we’ll use African cocoa in the pudding.

We will have a tasting at some point over the summer and finalise the menu.

Nick said he will do a mile in the 500 mile Challenge. My idea of tossing a pancake was rejected – he has a far better idea than that!

Leader of the pack

2009-06-24T23:09:00.004+01:00

I went for a catch up with Fred at the BBC in Glasgow. Fred was the compere for the only other ball I have organised – back in 2004. He was such a good friend through that experience and did such a professional job that I didn’t look anywhere else this time. We were going over my first draft of the running order for the evening and trying to keep it simple and fun. I am hoping that one or two of Fred’s celebrity friends might make an appearance at the ball and in the 500 miles Challenge.

And then there is the matter of Fred’s mile….

Fred was looking very healthy and suntanned from being in Marrakech and I took that in my stride but I did do a double take when I saw him leave the building a few minutes after we said goodbye – in full motor cycle gear!

Media coverage

2009-06-22T21:13:00.001+01:00

Miles for Smiles was launched through the Scotsman today. I’m very grateful to John McLellan for giving the event such a large and detailed spread in the Scotsman, to Claire Black for talking to me while I was getting my hair done (!) and to Ian Rutherford for managing to take a flattering photo.

Someone asked me what I meant by “launching” Miles for Smiles and I had to agree that it’s a bit of a grand word for having an announcement made! I guess the significance is that there’s no going back now and there are just over three months to go. That’s exciting and scary at the same time.

The sale of tables for the Miles for Smiles ball has been going quite well so my main aim now has to be to engage as many people as possible in the 500 miles Challenge – and to get them actually to sign up!

Launch day!

2009-06-21T12:24:00.004+01:00

The photos for the launch of Miles for Smiles took place on Friday afternoon in preparation for Miles for Smiles being launched in the Scotsman tomorrow. Many thanks to the EICC for letting me use the venue for this.

The plan was to give an idea of the variety of ways that a mile can be completed so we had Stephanie Douglas’s cheerleaders doing the splits and “scorpions”, Calum Watson and Alexander Middleton from George Watson College as piper and drummer, Shona Black from South Eastern Guide Dogs and her guide dog, Murray, Athena Buchan and Catriona McEwan and some of their friends from Fettes with various playground toys including a pogo stick, a tractor and a space hopper.

I was very grateful to Calum and Alexander for playing their pipes and drum. It helped to distract us on what was a very cold June day – I think you can tell from the photo!

We also had lots of green, white and blue balloons and Miles for Smiles T-shirts courtesy of Elizabeth Buchan. Thanks too to Lindsay Robertson, Adrienne Ferguson and Susan Dalgety for their support!

The First Minister's blessing

2009-06-20T18:51:00.004+01:00

It was great to be invited to the First Minister’s office on Friday morning to receive his official blessing for Miles for Smiles. He was extremely supportive and encouraging and he said,

“Scotland has strong links with Malawi and with Zambia. The value of the 500 Miles Project to the amputees and disabled people of these nations can not be over-estimated – allowing them the chance to get mobile and live active lives as part of their communities. I hope many Scots will rise to the 500 Miles Challenge to support this work and help to strengthen our special links with Africa. The dedication and drive of those involved is inspirational and a great contribution to the global fight against inequality.”

We talked a bit about the challenges of fundraising in this climate and Mr Salmond also gave me some good tips on how to have a good, natural photo taken. I am certainly very happy to have this one in front of the Gerrard Burns saltire painting in his office!

It looks like it will be impossible for the First Minister to be there on 3 October to do the first of my 500 miles on 3 October- but I am hopeful that he will be able to complete the one mile circuit shortly before the day itself - so he’ll still be leading the way. We’ll have to wait to find out exactly how he’ll do his mile!

George Watson's College

2009-06-18T23:21:00.003+01:00

I was talking to George Watson College’s current fifth years about 500 miles and Miles for Smiles on Monday. My husband’s daughter, Caitlin, is in that year group. I was hoping to get the pupils thinking about how they might do miles in the 500 miles Challenge before they break up for the summer - but also to encourage them to volunteer to help as stewards on the day of the 500 miles Challenge and to be helpers at the ball in the evening. I don’t think I have ever been asked so many questions after a talk – which was brilliant! I hope they are as interested in helping! Caitlin is going to co-ordinate the volunteers and is already the first official volunteer for the 500 miles Challenge.

The signs are good though because I am delighted to have the services of the School pipe band to form a guard for guests arriving at the ball in the evening – and I think at least some of the musicians will complete mile 499 in the 500 miles Challenge which will provide a wonderful musical accompaniment to the 500^th mile – which will be announced at a later date. And Calum Watson and Alexander Middleton are being the piper and drummer for the launch photos for Miles for Smiles tomorrow!

Thanks to Isy and Ian for their help!

Diageo

2009-06-11T20:07:00.004+01:00

Diageo are very kindly going to sponsor the after dinner drinks at the Miles for Smiles ball: Johnnie Walker Black Label Whisky and Baileys Irish Cream - yum! I have been to visit Lorraine and Pamela at the Gyle twice and learned all about the company’s committment to promoting responsible attitudes to alcohol. The point is to make sure that everybody enjoys the evening responsibly and to help us do that they have asked that water, food and information about unit measures and taxis are all available on the night. Diageo are also helping with a lovely quaffable raffle prize! Thank you Lorraine and Pamela for your enthusiastic support!

Jim Diamond

2009-06-11T18:49:00.002+01:00

I am absolutely thrilled that Jim Diamond has agreed to sing some of his hits at the Miles for Smiles ball!

Jim says he’s only fit for simply walking a mile but maybe we’ll get a tune or two…. I am wondering if he’ll be able to sustain the “I-I-I-I” of “I should’ve known better” for a whole mile!

Route markers

2009-06-10T17:19:00.000+01:00

I had the idea of marking out the route of the mile with vinyl feet using the “Africa-shaped foot” from the Miles for Smiles logo – but it is all coming a little unstuck. The cost of 350 vinyl feet was quoted at £4,314.80! We need less feet, or smaller feet – or to change the plan altogether! I am looking at the possibility of using simple, round Miles for Smiles “smiles” instead of feet - on the basis that they might be cheaper to produce in numbers – and might be more sellable as mementos to recoup the cost.

I'm back!

2009-06-09T17:44:00.001+01:00

More than a month since I wrote but I have been doing a lot of the boring stuff in preparation for launching Miles for Smiles, hopefully before the end of the month.

I’ve been working with the ever creative and willing Design Links to get flyers and posters ready for the 500 miles Challenge and talking to people and groups about their various ideas for doing miles.

There are a lot of pubic safety issues to think about around the 500 miles Challenge. I received a call from St Leonards Police Station because policing is part of that process - but I am hoping that the upshot will be at least a couple of policemen doing a mile in the 500 miles Challenge!

I had a very helpful meeting with David Waddell of Edinburgh City Council’s Events Unit. David is going to help me to publicise the 500 miles Challenge within the Council and to use the Council’s communication networks to spread the word to clubs and schools.

I have also met Brain McAteer of Essential Edinburgh about some of the practical aspects of the 500 miles Challenge. Essential Edinburgh is the organisation which manages Festival Square and Conference Square for the owners and occupiers so he is concerned with safety and cleanliness but he has also been really helpful with practical ideas, contacts and communication with the owners of the buildings.

Table sales for the Miles for Smiles ball have been going very well indeed which is encouraging in this economic climate but unsurprisingly, sponsorship is hard to come by.

I have been starting to ask for raffle and auction prizes and will share news of the exciting things which are starting to happen when I can.

We have a website!

2009-05-05T16:33:00.005+01:00

The Miles for Smiles website is now live and my first big thank you is to Design Links.

Design Links are a spectacular design firm based in Leith who have been supporting 500 miles from the beginning. Mike Stevenson is a great friend and Andrew McKay is the long suffering designer who has done all the design work. Design Links have designed the brand for both 500 miles and Miles for Smiles and they have also built, designed and created this website for Miles for Smiles and the main 500 miles site. And they have done all this free of charge. This is a huge gesture from a small firm especially at this time and I really appreciate it. It’s all very much in line with the ethos of Mike’s own inspirational marketing initiative – “thinktastic” – which is all about raising your game and being all you can be!

5 months to go!

2009-05-04T22:45:00.002+01:00

I have to say that it feels very scary to be starting out with the organisation of a large event like Miles for Smiles – right in the thick of a recession which is not predicted to bottom out until after the big day – 3 October 2009. But it’s also quite exciting - in a hold your breath sort of way.

I’m going ahead for a few reasons. The main one is that I need to raise the money for 500 miles’ three projects now so that I can sure of being able to follow through on the commitments which 500 is making - and wants to make. Also, after months of trying and failing to coordinate the main ingredients for Miles for Smiles, everything fell into place for 3 October in such a spooky way that I felt I had to go with the flow. I reckon that by October we’ll all be ready for some light hearted fun and a bit of a party! I’m also very aware that you only live once and that having The Proclaimers to play live at the ball is a great opportunity which may not come round again. Thank you Craig and Charlie!

I organised something like Miles for Smiles in 2004 and made a lot of money for the meningitis cause but I really do have realistic expectations for these times. I would like Miles for Smiles to be about a little money from a lot of people – collaboration. That’s why the event is so large. There’s scope for literally hundreds of people to join in the Miles for Smiles 500 miles Challenge and to raise a small amount of sponsorship and the ball is for 700 people. It’s not very exclusive! In fact it’s extremely inclusive.

Times are tough here in Scotland but it's all relative. To the vast majority of Malawians and Zambians our lives seem very comfortable indeed. Our National Health Service alone would be the envy of most disabled people in these countries. A little money from a lot of us will make a huge difference to the quality of many disabled people’s lives. It costs just £60 to give someone an average prosthesis or orthoses in Malawi and Zambia and £100 to fly an operation or a prosthesis or orthosis to a disabled person in a remote part of Zambia.

I plan to use this blog to keep you up to date with developments in the planning of Miles for Smiles. Hopefully there will be a few highlights as pieces fall into place!