21 September, 2014

Dear Sir,

The first thing that I want to say is that overall, this was an amazing, positive experience! People were so supportive and encouraged me every step of the way. It was fascinating to see how this began as the seed of an idea and once I announced it, the roots and the stem began to grow and it bloomed into a successful fund raiser. But believe me, I had NO IDEA what I was getting myself into! But fortunately for me, a team sprang up around me and worried about all of the logistics of the walk, leaving me to focus on preparing myself. So as I did practice walks each day, they discussed beverage tables, reception, firing of the cannon at Fort St Catherine and donations.

By deciding to walk on the main roads to garner the most exposure, I walked the longest route from end to end, exactly 25.5 miles. I had water stops at Barnes Corner, Riddells Bay (opposite the old White’s grocery); the grass verge outside of St Paul’s Church in Paget, Barritt’s, Crawl Gas Station, Kindley Field, Temptations in St Georges, and finally, a reception and refreshments for all walkers and supporters at Fort St Catherine. I am grateful for those water stops, because I now have a new and improved respect for all of these hills in Bermuda! Fort Scaur, White Hill, Collectors Hill, Crawl Hill, and Barrack Hill to name a few!

I arrived at Dockyard at 5:25am with my Aunt Rochelle LeComte, who had decided to walk with me. Within a few minutes of arrival, we were joined by several other people, who had decided to support this important charity:

Winsome, who works at Packwood Nursing Home — who completed the walk in 6 hours

Joe, the owner of Crawl Gas Station, and my aunt Rochelle’s boss

Christy and Stanley — Wife and Husband

Zakiyah Johnson — who was supposed to walk to the end of Sandys Parish, but chose to walk with me to Barritts instead!

First cousin Kelly — who walked from Dockyard to White Hill

Deborah Burgess — who walked from Barritt’s to Fort St Catherine

Laurie Shiell — Director of Centre against Abuse — who walked from Dockyard to Barnes Corner.

Numerous other people, who I do not know, joined us along the way. These wonderful people helped give me the mental and spiritual strength to complete this gruelling walk, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart!

In addition to them, there are so many others whom I would like to thank:

All the Board Members, the Director and staff of the Centre Against Abuse

Barritt’s for donating the beverages for both the refreshment tables, and the reception at Fort St Catherine, as well as for permitting us to establish one of the refreshment tables at their business gate

Dr Wendy Woods who, it is reported, was up all night preparing the food for the reception

Sisters Caroldey Douglas and Vernalda Davis, who volunteered to manage the entire refreshment tables from 6am until the end!

Crawl Gas Station — for permitting us to establish a rest table at their business, and who were also collecting donations at their counter. Also for the use of their rest room! (It was spotless!)

Mrs Francine Trott and the team at Fort St Catherine — who made a “You Did It Sign” for me, and especially also for providing us with tape to cross the finish line together. The Highlight for me, was when I stepped over the finish line, they shot off the cannon to celebrate my gruelling journey!

The Department of Parks for the loan of the refreshment tables, and for the use of FSC.

Temptations for their refreshments.

I want to thank the community, from all walks of life for their endless show of love and support throughout my walk today. They flashed their lights, gave me thumbs up, clapped along the way, and lots of Bravo! Bravo! Just overwhelmingly supportive and encouraging. I especially thank them for their donations! Also thank you to the dozens of people who showed up at Fort St Catherine to cheer me up over that final hill! The women from CDD and many other family, friends and supporters.

I thank my DPT colleagues who were watching out for me along the routes as they worked. And cautiously provided room for me to walk. They were very patient with me. Thank you for your show of support!!!

I would like to encourage the community as a whole to come together as a family on this critical social issue, to support this charity in its efforts to protect our community and eliminate violence. At this time, we only have each to rely upon, and thus I appeal to businesses, business men and women, doctors, lawyers, judges, churches, all employees and all employers, all residents of Bermuda, to unite and donate for this important charitable cause. I hope that the seed of an idea that led me to do this walk, will bear fruit and create seeds of ideas in others to help them to help the Centre Against abuse. Let’s not wait for any more tragedies to happen before we become proactive. Let’s end domestic abuse.

MARK ANDERSON