Lilongwe welcomes charity walkers, K24m raised
Seven youthful charity walkers returned to a heroes’ welcome at their base in Lilongwe after covering 362 kilometres from Lilongwe to Blantyre in 10 days to raise money for the children’s ward at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH).
Under the banner of a charity called Beyond You, the group has since said it has raised K24 million (about $34 600), K 2 million (about $2 850) more than their target.
Speaking during a cocktail party held in their honour at Lilongwe Golf Club on Friday, Duwa Mvula founder and director of Beyond You said the journey had challenges.
“For those who are in doubt, yes we did walk the entire road to Blantyre. We promised people we are walking and that’s exactly what we did,” she said.
The welcome cocktail turned emotional when Mary Chilima, wife to Vice-President Saulos Chilima, could not hold her tears as she presented bouquets of flowers to each walker.
“Congratulations for a job well done,” she said as she wiped tears with a handkerchief.
The walkers’ sneakers and active pants were auctioned and the proceeds, together with other pledges made at the event totalled K4 million. During the walk from Lilongwe to Blantyre, the team raised K20 million.
Parliamentary Committee on Health chairperson Juliana Lunguzi said the initiative had come at the right time when there was no allocation for equipment or maintenance in the proposed 2016/17 National Budget.
The walkers comprised Duwa, an economist but doing private business; Kalolo Msaka, a human resource manager; Ivy Chilungulo, a medical doctor at KCH; Milca Mphepo, a lecturer at Exploits University; Tiyanjane Kapalamula, an employee of Timveni Television; Wanangwa Msutu a marketer and Ruth Gondwe, a lawyer. n
