ANDY DE RONDA IN GANDIA - 'FROM ROME TO RONDA'
Yesterday, I met a remarkable man who was an oasis of calm. This was very welcome amidst yesterday’s possible ‘Spanish Revolution’, the ferocious work-up to the local and regional elections in Spain and the seemingly endless accusations from half the Spanish population about corrupt politicians!
The ‘oasis of calm’ was Andy Cameron, better known as Andy de Ronda – who runs Ronda Today, a web site renowned for the quality and extent of its information about Ronda. However, I was not meeting Andy to talk about Ronda.
Far from it.
In fact, I was meeting Andy in my beloved local town of Gandia because he was passing through it on his walk from Rome to Ronda. He is doing this walk for charity and he has spent the last few weeks tramping the highways and byways of Italy and France before descending through Spain.
Actually, Andy looked remarkably well although, as he said, he was confirming the very worst suspicions of all foreigners about British people.
“Why?”, I asked.
Andy pointed to his footwear which, to my horror, was – you guessed it – socks and sandals!
‘I know, I know!’ Andy exclaimed, just a little embarrassed. “The trouble is that my supposedly excellent, long distance walking boots simply fell apart under the strain of the hard wear of walking on tarmacked roads. So, I have gone back to basics and decided that if the Romans could reach Ronda using sandals then so could I!’
I did not have the heart to point out to Andy that the Romans probably did not wear socks but then I am not the person walking well over 2,700 kms – a dauntingly long distance.
Indeed, originally, Andy was hoping to complete his walk in 45 days but an injury to his leg before he set out and endless diversions have meant that he now does not expect to be in Ronda without walking at least 55 days (continuously!).
‘The trouble is that it is so hard to find a direct route!”, he exclaims. “There is also the not inconsiderable inconvenience of poor direction signs on roads. Mind you, this is nothing compared to the number of wrong directions that well meaning people have given me…”
Nonetheless, what Andy is achieving is a significant raising of the profile of his charitable foundation Fabrica de Sueños (‘Dream Factory’). This is a charity that is aiming to raise 2 million euros over the next four years for children in Andalusia to:
- Help parents of children who are hospitalised
- Provide direct funding for sick children who need specific operations
The aims of Fabrica de Sueños are, unarguably, worth supporting. In fact, never has this been more urgent than now with the economic crisis in Spain placing both Spanish parents and the Spanish medical system under terrible strain.
Certainly, any parent whose child has been ill will know how stressful the experience is and how it can impact upon every area of life. If you are working, you may have to give that work up and, if expensive treatment is needed, then you simply may not be able to afford it. Simply heartbreaking…
So, Andy’s foundation needs your help, it is pertinent and important and you will be able to support something of real value and be able to put something back into Spain – the place that may be providing you with a terrific life or have given you years of happy and valued holidays.
‘Every cent I can raise makes a difference’, Andy says, ‘and I would urge everyone to contribute something, however small.’
If you want more details about Fabrica de Sueños or to make a donation then please go onto www.romaronda.info – and do, at the very least give Andy your support.
Meanwhile, if you see a Briton wearing socks and sandals trudging along a Spanish road in the direction of Ronda – then do, at the very least, stop and say ‘hi!’.
RELEVANT INFORMATION
Watch this video about Andy de Ronda: http://youtu.be/wm1KyA-d9R8