
People doing fundraising often do some challenge. My friend Bryony (who is involved in the charitable website ‘ulingana’ with me) has just run a half marathon. But she’s young! And my knee cartilage (skiing legacy!) will not allow me to run.
I could spend money to raise money (!) by …say….jumping out of an aeroplane dressed only in a furry rabbit suit, or climbing Everest barefoot without oxygen.
But I have a great idea that will actually add money to the fund, and avoid those irritating side effects of such ventures, like broken back or pulmonary oedema.
I WILL EAT VERY simply and live on £20 pounds a week. I will eat like my friends in Zambia do. They live on about a dollar a day. The cost of living here is much higher but I’m vegetarian so should be easy. No going out; I ‘m a recluse anyway, but this also means no going across to the yoga ashram in Wales. No chocolate, no ice cream, no luxuries at all. Basic food, rice, dahl, veg. Fruit if I can afford it. Solidarity with my sisters & brothers!
(I’ve sent out £200 to my friend Musa in Zambia, so his & Ketty’s families can buy enough maize to survive this year as the harvest failed. Again. People living too far out in the bush won’t even get hunger help. Some of them will die of starvation).
Swami Nischalananda Saraswati said to me a year ago that the way to get through the place where I was stuck in my yogic progress, was to go and serve my fellow humans. That’s what I’m trying to do with my life now. And this project arose directly from that. So I appreciate totally that it’s my project and I can’t expect anyone to connect with it in the way I do.
But at the same time, I could really use some help.
If you feel inclined to help, then I, and Alice (Ketty’s mum) thank you from our hearts.
love Tony
ps I have been invited to go and stay in Zambia later this year, so I will be taking Ketty’s first year of school fees as it’s cheaper than doing bank transfers. Also Alice’s first year of taxi charges to get them there (or term if I can’t afford a year) as there are no buses out into the bush!
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