The 10th anniversary of the passing of Pearl Stephen

The 31st July this year was the anniversary of the death of Pearl Stephen who was my inspiration for returning to Sri Lanka to volunteer following a family holiday in 2013. I’ve been out a further 8 times since then. Pearl founded the Women’s Development Centre (WDC) in Kandy in the early 1980s and until her death, more than 30 years later, offered extensive support to improve the living conditions for vulnerable women and marginalised communities across Sri Lanka. I detail my journey with Sri Lanka and WDC in an article published a few years ago called the holiday that changed things

Chandrathilika and Pearl Stephen in Nuwara Eliya just 2 days before her sudden passing, and Pearl and me a few days before that at WDC

Fundraising update

Since my last update 2 months ago we’ve raised a further £1000 from pre-loved clothes sales and an incredible £1450 at the Paddlesports and Sri Lankan curry event hosted by my friends Andy and Sam. As a result I’ve now reached 77% of my £30,000 target! (£23,262). Fundraising is always challenging but it seems even more so now with the sharp cost of living increases. If you have any ideas for fundraisers that you may be willing to host please get in touch.

The girls are back in town buying pre-loved, donated clothes, all for this amazing cause

Mucking about on the river and raising £1500 whist doing so

Trek update

Within the next couple of months I’ll be planning the more detailed steps for the final stage of my 3 stage trek – this one will be from Trincomolee, where I completed Stage 2 earlier this year, to Jaffna at the northern tip of Sri Lanka. I’ll set off in March 2024 for the approximate 300km trek up the north east coast. This region has for decades, and certainly during the period of the 25 year Sri Lankan Civil War (1983-2009) between the Tamil Tigers and the Sinhalese government, been totally out of bounds for travellers and for most Sri Lankans too. It’s only now beginning to be redeveloped and the land mines fully cleared.

The D,C,B, A route or the A,B,C,D route whichever works best

Further sponsorship – if you’d like to help me to help those in great need in Sri Lanka, whilst being assured every penny will get to those who need it, then please donate by clicking on this link. Don’t forget if you’re a tax payer to declare gift aid when doing so which will increase your donation by 25% at no cost to you. Alternatively, if you know of anyone or any organisation who may have an interest in this cause please share this blog link with them. And, if you’d like to get involved in anyway please get in touch with me at marciasummers@hotmail.com

Next up

A more detailed trekking plan which will include places of interest and my stopping points.

If you missed the last blog and interested in reading it please click here.