The team behind Lendwithcare have always felt incredibly grateful for the amazingly dedicated supporters we have who regularly fund hundreds of deserving entrepreneurs. Not only that, many Lendwithcare supporters also choose to fund the growth of the project, and CARE’s wider work, in so many ways.
Earlier this year, we spoke to Serena, who has taken on several challenges to support both Lendwithcare and CARE. Here’s what she told us about her experience:
I first started supporting Lendwithcare twelve years ago having seen an advertisement in a magazine, and I have been backing entrepreneurs every month since then. I was very taken with the idea of lending, of giving people the dignity of a business arrangement to take control of their lives. I am often amazed at the lengths people will go to to provide for their families.
In February 2024 I participated in the Lendwithcare sponsored cycle ride through Cambodia and Thailand. Meeting some of the entrepreneurs supported through Lendwithcare was an unforgettable highlight of the trip. They were all delightful and welcoming. After years of making loans, it was extraordinary to hear their stories and to learn just how much Lendwithcare loans had enabled them to improve their own lives and those of their families. The contrast between their lifestyle and mine was both stark and humbling.
Lendwithcare sent me information about Walk In Her Shoes in early 2025 and I welcomed the chance to do more, so I signed up and set myself a minimum target of sixty miles. I tried to be as authentic as possible, so I always walked when I would normally have driven or taken a bus. I managed to resist the temptation to put it off when the weather was horrible, but some days presented a challenge!
The walking gave me time to reflect and to appreciate that I had the choice to walk and for how far. The same is not true for many women around the world. I found it was not just the toll on my energy and the necessity of being more organised but also finding the extra time that everything takes when you are on foot. Also, a reminder that anything picked up along the way had to be carried back and not popped in the boot of the car!
I would definitely recommend taking part in the new challenge to Walk 100 Miles in May. I really liked getting a bit fitter, knowing I was helping other people and appreciating my lot in life. I did find the fundraising hard following such a huge fundraising effort for the Southeast Asia Bike Ride, but this became easier when I made a start on the challenge. I found that friends, family and neighbours were interested, asked questions and were very supportive by making donations. So, if you are thinking of taking part in Walk 100 Miles, go for it! It is wonderful to feel part of something that is uniting people across the world - you'll love it!
If you or your friends would like to take part, there will be some more information coming soon!