Over the next year, we are inviting Friends, supporters and partners to walk London's Capital Ring and raise vital funds and awareness for our work.
Our Director, Judith Moran, will be walking each stage. We asked her why...
“Solvitur ambulando – it is solved by walking”. I firmly believe this. I have a walking tracker which showed that last year I completed 2,500 miles, the same distance as a monarch butterfly migrates each year. Last year was a tough year for me, including a number of family bereavements and both work and life challenges, and the thing that really helped was to walk. This makes it sound as if walking is only important to do when things are going wrong, whereas I think it's an excellent thing to do when things are going right. It’s life-affirming and never fails to put me into a positive frame of mind.
Why walk for QSA?
To my mind, QSA is like a blueberry, a super fruit, with an awful lot packed into a small amount. We make our resources go a long way – 9 projects at last count with 24 staff members in total. I think we are seen as a principled, reliable and high-quality charity. There is a danger that we don’t come across as a charity in urgent need of donations, but of course, we do need funds to be sustainable. So, for me, this is an opportunity to make a very clear fundraising ask a wide number of people who hold QSA dear, to build solid foundations for our work going forward.
Which stage are you particularly looking forward to?
So much of where the walk goes will be new to me that I imagine there will be a revelation each time. This might be a perverse thing to stay, but I’m looking forward to seeing whether there is one stage that is really quite taxing – the slopes are steep, the weather is harsh, the walking is hard. Much as I’m up for a wonderful stroll most of the time, I’d also like to feel that I was in some way tested. I may live to regret this sentiment…
What conversations are you keen to have?
There are two kinds of conversations that I’m looking forward to having. First of all, there are those about QSA where someone’s question or observation will spark something in me which will somehow weave its way into our work going forward – I feel I’m quite a magpie so this is a highly desirable outcome, and I’m awaiting inspiration! Secondly, there are the ones you can strike up with a stranger where you find yourself marveling at the randomness of the subject or the immediate connection you feel with someone or the pleasure of listening to a piece of their history and knowledge. I know that I’ll be expected to do a lot of talking on the walks, but I very much want to do a lot of listening as well.