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In
a post
last month
I
told you about a 330-mile barefoot
walk around Bali that was
being undertaken by UK domainer
Robert Epstone and fellow
Rotarian Beat Schmid de Gruneck to |
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Sole
Men Robert Epstone and Beat
Schmid
de Gruneck (right) on their barefoot
journey |
raise
funds for needy children in Indonesia
where they both reside (the week after
my post Owen Frager published a
very interesting in-depth
profile of Epstone who once
managed the seminal rock band T Rex).
I'm happy to report that the two men,
who formed an organization called Sole
Men of Indonesia to support
their efforts aimed at helping the more
than 232,000 homeless children in
Indonesia, have successfully completed
their 29-day journey.
Epstone
told me just over $12,000 was
received over the course of the walk
with more still coming in. Not bad
considering this first walk was planned
to be a 'proof of concept'
mission that will now allow them to
credibly approach corporate sponsors and
major donors for support in a series of
similar walks they have planned in
Indonesia and other locations around the
globe.
More
importantly they drew a great deal of attention
to their cause. Epstone said "We |
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achieved
great publicity for our awareness campaign
in a number of newspapers in Indonesia,
the UK and globally online. We had
coverage by four Indonesian TV stations
- TVRI-Bali, Bali TV, Alam
TV and Bali's ITN as
well as the UK's ITV news channel
and two Indonesian film companies
including BaliTodayShow.com that
constantly posted progress videos to
YouTube. Through reports in these
media and our own including Facebook,
Twitter (robertepstone) and Solemen.org
we have received donations from the UK,
Japan, China, the USA and Switzerland so
far, as well as donations on the road
from interested tourists from France,
Belgium and Australia."
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The
Governor of Bali, Pak Made Mangku Pastika
(center), came out to thank Robert and Beat
for their efforts during a stop at Kuta Beach
where they helped with a beach clean up
effort.
Epstone
detailed how the money is being used noting,
"Sole Men Indonesia has been funding the
printing and distribution of basic health care
manuals for poor children of different ages. For
example, advice on basic health care for
the younger children coupled with information on
HIV prevention, alcoholism, drugs, and addiction
for the older children. Together with a
doctor and/or nurse from Yayasan
Anak Anak we used these for
health presentations we made in schools,
orphanages and villages around Bali during our
535 kilometer (330 mile) barefoot walk. Going
forward our plan is to fund additional mobile
health clinics to reach children in places
where currently they have little or no access to
medical health care, health education as well as
much needed education regarding their
environment."
"As
funds are increased through donations we plan to
donate an urgently needed replacement ambulance
for the Bumi
Sehat Foundation (Ibu Robin) in Aceh as
the previous second hand one donated by Rotary
is now dead from rust and wear and tear
after seven years in constant use."
"Our
final mission is to establish a center for
homeless children with facilities to help
them readjust emotionally, intellectually and
spiritually with education programs and
vocational training to prepare for work within
the Bali Tourist industry through our
relationship with the Ministry of Culture and
Tourism," Epstone said.
Sole
Man Robert Epstone (4th from left) with
another supporter, I Gusti Putu Laksaguna
(3rd from right), the Inspector General of the Ministry
of Culture and Tourism for Indonesia
If
you are wondering why they decided to walk
barefoot, Epstone answered, "We
did it barefoot to be in solidarity with
those unfortunate shoeless children
and adults who don't have a choice as we
have."
Epstone
said special care is being taken to insure than
all donations go to help those need. "Due
to Indonesia being pretty highly
ranked in terms of corruption, our policy is
never to hand over money and like Rotary not
to fund overhead. Instead we will continue
to fund actual projects as outlined
above. In the case where we may fund a vehicle,
either an ambulance for Aceh or one elsewhere to
serve as a mobile health clinic, we will always
retain the original registration documents to
prevent them being sold for cash - perhaps an
unlikely situation but one which we intend to
avoid," Epstone said.
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As
you would expect, their 29-day journey
produced some unforgettable moments.
"We met with some amazing people
along the way helping poor and homeless
children in Bali as well as incredible
kindness, humility and selflessness in
teachers, villagers and communities,"
Epstone said. "We learned the value
of a smile and sympathy :) - which
meant so much especially as quite often
we were in some pain from the
roads."
"We
also learned to recognize where help is
needed especially when making the health
education presentations which were very
eagerly received by the children. We
learned and were reminded time and again
that sharing is caring and that
there is still so much that can be done
in Bali, not only with health
education but also environmental issues
which of course impact on health. For
example the main reason for pollution is
the burning of plastic which later
causes cancer in the community." |
The
barefoot trek took a toll
on
Epstone's right leg, ankle and
foot.
All had to be patched soon after
he passed the 300-kilometer mark. |
So
what's next for the Sole Men? "We
have just been invited to do a barefoot walk all
around the southern part of Bali from August
9th to 11th to support education, re-skilling
and creation of eco-friendly job and business
opportunities, for the poor and disadvantaged in
that area," Epstone said. The Sole
Men will be joined by nine volunteers and staff
from the R.O.L.E
Foundation and end up at a
special fund raising dinner at the Ayana
Hotel (formerly the Ritz Carlton).
Yet
another big event may be on the horizon. Epstone
said, "The
Quicksilver
Foundation has invited Sole Men,
subject to board approval, to do a 500 kilometer
barefoot walk to the World Surfing
Championships on Australia's Gold Coast
(ending February 27, 2012) where 10,000
people will attend the final day.
For
two guys walking without shoes, Robert and Beat
are certainly covering a lot of ground!
If you wish to donate to their cause you
can do so here.
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