OWs Eme Evans, Alice Garvey and Sasha Ansell take on the Rocketman Challenge!

Message from Eme Evans ( C 14) and we hope you will agree that this is a seriously worthwhile challenge and best of luck to them!

The Rocketman Challenge: 1 week, 10 girls, 1000km

Next week, myself and nine others – flatmates from the University of Edinburgh, including two other OW’s Alice Garvey and Sasha Ansell (yes, we branched out loads) – are attempting to cover the furthest distance separating us: from Teignmouth, Devon to Forres Scotland. A total distance of one thousand (and three!) kilometres, raising money for the Encephalitis Society.

Small charities are one of the many groups struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Encephalitis Society is no exception. Encephalitis affects 500,000 people globally each year, yet 8 out of 10 people do not know what it is. Increasing awareness and understanding of the illness is therefore hugely important.

In simple terms, encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain. It is caused either by an infection invading the brain or through the immune system attacking the brain in error. No two people affected will have the same symptoms or outcome and the effects can be long-term.

Our dear friend Molly – one of the 10 – sadly lost her brother Charlie to the illness in October 2017, so it’s a cause that is very close to our hearts.

Any donations would be deeply appreciated and can be made via our JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rocketman-challenge

Equally, if you would like to learn more about encephalitis, the society’s website contains some great information: https://www.encephalitis.info/

I hope you’re all keeping safe and well wherever you might be.