Less than a week...

With less than a week to go, preparations begin by dumping everything listed on the tick sheet on the bed ready to be packed on Friday!

Having received all my vaccinations now, and with all the equipment i'm packing to keep me safe in India purchased, it has made me very reflective on just how lucky I am to not only have this adventure lying ahead, but to be able to take every precaution necessary... precautions the people I will be meeting are unlikely to have.

India is huge. With over a billion people, the staggering scale of this nation means over 140 million people do not have access to safe drinking water - twice the entire population of the UK. Around 807 million people do not have access to even a toilet. The sad reality of these figures means 320,000 children under five die every year of preventable diseases which are caused by unsafe water and sanitation.



WaterAid RaceNight 2012 Volunteers

Through WaterAid's work, just £15 can enable one person to access a lasting supply of safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation. Over the last four years I have had the privilege of fundraising on behalf of Anglian Water for WaterAid with lots of fantastic volunteers and generous benefactors. 
The WaterAid RaceNight 2012 (right) raised over £62,000  for WaterAid and is just one of the events in the busy calendar of fundraisers which are organised and supported by the many volunteers at Anglian Water.

The exciting part of the WaterAid supporters trip for me will be joining all the supporters from the various Water companies across the UK who collectively promote and fundraise for WaterAid. Travelling with them all and experiencing how the funds raised transform the lives of some of the world's poorest people, I feel will be truly inspiring.

Please share this blog with friends and family. If anyone is interested in getting involved with WaterAid, please visit their website: wateraid.org

I will be providing another update before I fly, and many throughout the trip...

Thanks,

Matt