5 months to go!

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!