The main reason we’re walking across America – in all honesty – is fun. Yes, we are doing so to raise some money – for the Pamir Trust (and more on that later) – but we would be lying if we were to say we weren’t going, first and foremost, for the journey. It’s a chance for us, as ignorant Brits, to see whether the USA really is as depicted on TV and in books; do all New Yorkers live in large loft apartments? Is Homer Simpson the embodiment of the American man? Can you earn a living battling alligators in sewers? I hope we’ll find more to the States than this – as otherwise logic would follow that Big Brother is a true representation of life in Britain. Actually, on second thoughts…
But, whilst absorbing as much of America as we can during our (very slow) journey across it will take up much of our time, we also wanted to do something slightly more productive as well. Which is where The Pamir Trust comes in. It’s a charity which we set up to set up to support locally led community development projects in the Pamir mountains, Tajikistan. So, whilst we’re walking – come talk to us about Tajikistan and about the Pamir Mountains. And, whilst you’re on this website, read a bit more about the project, and the people, The Pamir Trust will support with your help. And, if you’d like to give a little bit of money to help, you can do so here. In the spirit of ambition we’re hoping to raise £5 for every mile we walk – that’s a total of £15,000 by the end – so we’ll need all of your help!
We’re very keen to meet people and groups all along our walking route to talk about the Pamirs – and life in general if so wished! So, if you’re based on our route, and maybe belong to a knitting group, Sunday school or sport’s club, and would like to know a little more about the Pamirs – do drop us an email at…. . In particular, if you’re at a school, we’d be very happy to come in to give a quick talk to one of your classes. We’d be pleased to speak about the Pamirs in any context – be it a history, geography or home economics class – and would welcome the opportunity to visit and share our enthusiasm for the region.
Most importantly though, we’d just like to say hello, so do give us a wave if you see us pass!
When you’re walking 20 miles a day, carrying a hefty rucksack and with blisters on your feet, it’s nice to have a reason to carry on picking up your feet. Our motivation is raising money for a good cause, The Pamir Trust an organisation which is very close to our heart, mainly because it’s something we set up!
THE PAMIR TRUST
The Pamir Trust’s mission is to help communities in the Pamir Mountains ‘the roof of the world’ within Tajikistan to realise their potential, supporting them to build sustainable livelihoods.We will be working directly with local community organisations in the Pamir Mountains; organisations which are run by local villagers for the benefit of the whole community. We will look for projects which are viewed locally as a genuine need, and which represent a step towards the community becoming truly self-sufficient. This might be creating long-term employment opportunities for local young people or giving a village the means to develop infrastructure for eco-tourism development.
WHERE
Tajikistan is a small mountainous and landlocked country located to the north of Afghanistan and the west of China.
The Pamir mountain range spans Eastern Tajikistan, parts of Kyrgyzstan, Afghanstan and China. The area has a population of just over 200,000 people.
You can find out more here.
WHY
Although the Pamirs are a very beautiful corner of the world, things aren’t easy for the people who live there. The region has a harsh climate and difficult and remote geography which has led to poverty in many areas.
