30 years ago, when I was young and foolhardy, I drove an old Landrover from Malawi to Botswana’s Okavango delta, with my fiancé and her friend. We broke down in remotest Zambia. The girls looked at me, I looked at the engine, the situation looked bad. Suddenly a pickup appeared, driven by a young guy who worked on a nearby ranch. He towed us in, worked on the engine for a full day, and refused payment apart from a bottle of whisky. I’ll never forget his kindness.

On this walk, I’ve received many acts of kindness, often from strangers. A lady I’d never met flew from a European city to join me on the walk. An Airbnb host drove for hours to pick me up and drop me off. Hundreds have donated money or time.

Acts of kindness are doubly blessed. They benefit the recipient. And they promote a spirit of giving. Providing balance in a world where the news is often negative. We remember them. We all gain.

#3500toendit