They
averaged
a
marathon
a
day
from
Edale
in
the
Peak
District
to
Kirk
Yetholm
in
Scotland,
climbing
nearly
40,000
feet.
Dr
Gainsborough
said
on
Tuesday:
“Running
the
equivalent
of
a
marathon
a
day
for
ten
days
was
pretty
brutal
as
it
is
wild
and
mountainous
terrain,
and
it
is
quite
easy
to
lose
the
path.”
He
said
he
wouldn’t
go
as
far
as
to
say
he
enjoyed
it,
but
finishing
without
injury
was
“deeply
exhilarating.”
Said
Dr
Gainsborough:
“Jem,
who
was
magnificent
throughout,
is
now
enjoying
a
more
sedentary
pace
in
Southfields.”
The
Bishop
began
his
run
on
1
August
to
raise
£30,000
to
improve
education
in
Zimbabwe’s
Matabeleland,
which
is
linked
to
Southwark
diocese.
He
was
inspired
by
a
visit
last
year,
where
he
saw
children
walking
up
to
10km
to
school,
a
dangerous
journey
that
keeps
many,
especially
girls,
from
attending.
The
funds
will
help
build
schools
like
St
Cecilia’s
in
Lupane,
which
is
still
under
construction
but
already
teaching
local
children.
Midway
through
his
run,
he
received
a
video
message
of
support
from
the
Bishop
of
Matabeleland,
Cleophas
Lunga,
joined
by
Mothers’
Union
members
and
senior
clergy
singing
outside
the
cathedral.
Donations
have
now
reached
£35,389,
with
£27,000
given
online
and
£8,000
offline,
and
more
contributions
are
welcome.
Bishop
Lunga
said:
“We
are
delighted
that
you
are
doing
a
very
good,
good
thing,
not
only
for
your
spirit
and
body,
but
also
for
us
in
Matabeleland.”
He
added
that
the
gifts
donated
would
go
“a
long
way
to
improving
the
lives
of
the
young
people
in
the
villages”.
Dr
Gainsborough
concluded:
“I
have
been
amazed
how
my
run
has
captured
people’s
imagination
—
reflected
in
a
huge
amount
of
support
and
prayers,
and
incredible
generosity
in
fundraising.“To
be
able
to
make
a
difference
to
the
lives
of
children
in
our
link
diocese
of
Matabeleland
so
they
no
longer
have
to
walk
long
distances
to
school
means
more
than
I
can
say
and
makes
all
the
pain
and
heartache
worth
it.
Thanks
be
to
God!”