A Mile In My Shoes is a team who have come together to walk to raise funds for wildfire conservation. The team includes Kathy Trevenen O’Hara , a teacher at Yada College; she specializes in teaching children with learning challenges. She is joined on the walk by two team members namely Albert Nyerukai and Martin Billiat. Also joining her are two of her students Blair Culverwell (18) and Dylan Hartell (16). They started their walk on 3 April this year from Harare, and are walking 42km per day with rest days in between, and expect to complete their 1,000km walk to Gonarezhou on 30 April.

The funds raised are for AWARE Trust Zimbabwe and Kariba Animal Welfare Trust (KAWFT). AWARE is the only veterinary conservation trust in Zimbabwe focusing on the welfare of wildlife and conservation of habitats. Kariba Animal Welfare Fund Trust (KAWFT) was formed in 2010 for the purpose of raising funds and awareness on treating and helping injured or distressed wildlife in the Kariba area.

O’Hara who had a few misfortunes in her life which include a series of violent home invasions, to losing a loved one, spoke to Harare News on what motivated and inspired her to do the walk. “I have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder so I walk to manage my thoughts and calm the rage. I camp for peace and solitude. The more I walk, the further I want to go. If I could turn this episode into something good, raise funds for the wildlife I love, show children who learn differently that they can do so much when they challenge themselves, if I could show off Zimbabwe and her beauty, if I could heal along the way, then I will be living my dream,” said O’Hara.

During the 1,000km walk the team have been amazed by the generosity of strangers. “It is not just a team walking 1,000km. There are team members all the way, where we stay, who we meet, people who feed us, those who encourage us, our backup team in Harare. Our team is huge. I am so proud to be Zimbabwean and part of this team,” said O’Hara. They also have team supporters far and wide in the United Kingdom and South Africa cheering them as they walk.  Along the way other people have also joined them in 1,000km walk, walking distances of 5km and more with them.

Updates on the team can be found on their Facebook page: A Mile In My Shoes. Donations can be made through their Facebook page.