My first Publication Mojatu Nottingham Magazine M030 | Page 26

mojatu .com
26 Arts & Culture
PEOPLE WHO LEAVE THEIR
FOOTPRINTS IN OTHER
PEOPLE’S LIVES!
Our CEO, Valentine Nkoyo, met
with Lee Neary in York just over 7
years ago when they were both
studying at York St John University.
After learning the inspirational
story of her journey and passion
to impact on the lives of her family
members, community, continent
and beyond, Lee wanted to help!
He started with fundraising for
Valentine’s former primary school
Moi Eor-Enkitok Primary School! He
is a guy on a mission and supports
Smile Mission, a charity supporting
communities in Uganda.
Smile Mission combine adventure
with humanitarianism in sun-
soaked Camino de Santiago charity
event. July 22nd – August 6th
2018: With only a 9kg backpack,
old boots and a big smile, Lee
Neary participated in a 322km
hike along the famous Camino de
Frances. Stepping off the train in
Léon (Spain), Lee (33) began a two-
week long march through record
breaking temperatures, across
mountains, valleys and plains –
following the sun west all the way
to Santiago de Compostela…….
and he made the selfless decision
to donate what he raised to support
Mojatu Foundation’s Female Genital
Mutilation project to support
survivors and raise awareness.
Asked about the walk, Lee said “Each
soul has their own Camino! You don’t
always have to know where, or with
who or even why. Some are searching
for purpose, some creating it – some
already know. Sometimes…it can be
as simple as: left foot first, right foot
will follow!”. When our CEO met him
in Leeds earlier this year, she asked
Lee what the biggest challenge was
and he said “There were certainly
a few wearied moments of doubt.
Moments of exhaustion, extreme
physical discomfort and wondering
if I had bitten off more than I could
chew!”. It is only a person driven by
passion would keep their head up
despite such challenges to ensure
they accomplish what they set to do!
As if this was not enough, he chose
to fundraise for Mojatu Foundation
to celebrate his birthday! Again, A
man on a mission!
Asked to choose the project to be
supported through the funds raised
by Lee, Valentine, who was raised
in the Maasai community of Eor-
Enkitok, Kenya Said “The key project
which I have been working on most
the past couple of years is on the
FGM issue, it’s a massive issue! Quite
often people think that FGM is not
an issue outside of Africa, but there
are children at risk and women here
who have been through FGM and
are in need of our support …”
The good news is, Lee has been
invited as a special guest at the Clit
Rock Extravaganza in Nottingham
to raise awareness and funds to
support the same village school,
Moi Eor-Enkitok Primary School, he
fundraised for several years ago. He
will be meeting a team of powerful
women who have come together to
fundraise to support girl’s education
in Kenya. Join us on 8 th March to
celebrate the day in style. See
(page….for details of the event).
More great stuff is in the pipeline…..
have you ever though of climbing
Mount Kilimanjaro for a good cause?
Contact us for updates as that’s the
next big vision……Conquer the
Kilimanjaro with a Smile- The more,
the merrier! Many people walk in
and out of our lives but only true
friends and supporters leave their
footprints in our lives.
See photos of the meeting in Leeds
earlier this year, when a decision was
made which project to be support.