I'm putting heart and soles into barefoot trek to London

Published on Saturday 21 June 2008 12:30

HE has walked barefoot for the past nine months through rain, hail and snow.

But Ewen Hardie's protest for democracy in Burma is set to be taken to a whole new level as he embarks on a six-week long trek from Edinburgh to London – barefoot and penniless.

The biology teacher at Drummond Community High School will only carry a few things with him on his epic journey, including the five items which the charity "5 Alive" sends out to help families in Burma – rice and salt, a cooking pot, a lighter, a machete – which Mr Hardie will substitute for a penknife – and a tarpaulin.

He will rely on "the kindness of strangers" along the way to boost his rice diet and put him up for the night.

Mr Hardie, 28, first took a stand back in September by going barefoot like the monks in Burma as he watched news reports of their peaceful protests turn to bloodshed.

And when he discovered walking around without any shoes on gave him the platform he needed to spread the word about the atrocities, he vowed to continue his protest to raise awareness.

His walk to London – which will take him about six weeks to complete – will give him the chance to reach an even wider audience than his school pupils and the people who stop him in the street to ask what he is doing.

Mr Hardie, of Seafield Road, said: "It wasn't easy in winter but it was an invitation for people to come up to me and ask me what I was doing.

"But ever since the weather started to improve, I started to question the validity of what I was doing because people stopped asking why I was barefoot.

"Somebody suggested that I do a walk or set myself a target and this pilgrimage will allow me to continue meeting people and raise awareness and raise money for the Burma Education Scholarship Trust."

Mr Hardie has taken the decision not to take a mobile phone or any money with him because he believes he cannot fully put his faith in other people's kindness if he has a back-up.

He said: "I'm prepared for the fact that I might not be able to do it but I can't say I have faith in the kindness of strangers if I'm going to have a back-up.

"I'm very aware of the fact that rice doesn't go very far and that's a powerful thing in itself because that's what the Burmese internally displaced people are surviving on and I'm attempting to show solidarity."

Mr Hardie will set off on his 400-mile journey – which will see him walk around 15 miles every day – from Drummond school on Wednesday. His girlfriend Eleanor will post regular updates on his blog about his adventures along the way.

Lynda Flex, chairwoman of Drummond's parent council, said Mr Hardie was an inspiration to his pupils.

She said: "He is a great role model for the children.

"He has brought this to the attention of the pupils and I think it's hugely important.

"It shows great courage and conviction."