I'm supporting Chaffinch's appeal to create a library and study space in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya.

What am I doing?

Throughout May I will be using a Whipr home rowing machine to row 1km for every one of the children currently registered at the Future Stars Development Centre in Kibera.  The final number is yet to be determined but I estimate between 130km and 150km will be required of me.

This will be challenging, especially as I live with a disability that will make it all the harder. As I row each kilometre, throughout the month of May, I will mark off the names of the children on a wall chart. Knowing which child I am rowing for will hopefully keep me focused and motivated and I hope to share some of their stories as I encounter their names.

Why am I doing this?

For children living in the slum, access to something as simple as a book to read is extremely difficult meaning tens of thousands of children never experiencing the joy of reading and the multitude of benefits it brings.The future doesn't always look very bright for children of the slum, but we have a chance to make a difference. A book might seem like such a little thing, yet it could be the little thing that gives a child what they need to build a better life and achieve their potential.

I am an avid reader and can't imagine what it must be like to never have been able to discover all the new worlds that books create.  I am a strong believer in the power of reading and I would love to see the children of Future Stars enjoying all the benefits it offers.