Today at London's Archbishop's Park was an amazing adventure! We took two trains to start our excursion, and we reached the park just before midday. As we joined a group of excited people wearing matching t-shirts with varying numbers, the atmosphere teemed with excitement. The noises of dogs barking and youngsters playing filled the park.
With our water bottles and bags, we warmed up for the day with a fun samba dance. We couldn't help but grin and chuckle along with the music as we followed the beat. It was the ideal way to boost our spirits in preparation for the big walk.
The Red Cross people were there to support us and wish us luck as we gathered at the starting line. Their support warmed our hearts and gave us an additional dose of inspiration. We saw people holding posters of Israeli civilians who were taken hostage by Hamas on 7th October 2023, including children, teenagers, infants, and toddlers. Some of them were waving flags to support people like Palestine and Israel. Some of them wore Palestinian attire, which is black and white. They stood in solitary but didn't walk with us, but they did support us. During the hour-long stroll, we were treated to breath-taking vistas of some of London's most recognisable sites. We were in awe of Westminster Abbey, the imposing London Eye, the magnificent Big Ben, the breath-taking St. Paul's Cathedral, and the cutting-edge Tate Modern.
Shops and ice cream trucks lined the path, enticing us with their sweets. I was determined not to give up even though my legs felt like jelly and fatigue was starting to set in. I wanted to finish the trek fairly, so taking a bus or taxi would have felt like cheating. As we got closer to the finish line, we had such a great sense of accomplishment. I had a wave of joy and pride as we were met with clapping and cheering.
We took pictures to celebrate when it was all over. Even better, one woman requested me to snap a photo of her and her friend, which I gladly did. We all grinned when we got our medals, and my mum got some amazing shots of me on camera. The British Red Cross was inscribed in smaller black text beneath "Team Red Cross," which was shown with pride on the silver medals in large red letters. In addition, we were given certificates to mark our accomplishments.
I was overjoyed to have raised £103 for the British Red Cross. It was an amazing feeling. Following the function, we drove to Burnham Station by two trains and rewarded myself with a fantastic dinner at Peri Peri. We had two burgers, one for me and one for Sarim, hot chips, and cold Cokes. I forgot to tell you that after we finished walking, a lady handed us some sweets. I took two, one for me and one for Sarim. I handed Sarim one sweet after we went home, but he insisted I could have both. I ate both. They were very, very enjoyable.
As I think back on the day, I'm filled with happiness and contentment. I am eager to repeat the experience, maybe even this Christmas, as it was gratifying while being difficult.
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