Friends

Based in Edinburgh, Bob is an award-winning copywriter and communications professional. As well as managing the content of this website and 500 miles’ email updates, he is responsible for the design of our newsletters.

My good friend Gloria Kerr, owner of our local pub in Edinburgh, donated £1 to 500 miles for every One Smile sandwich (a delicious Prawn and Salmon combo) they sold!

Watson’s Malawi Partnership facilitates work between the School’s pupils, staff, parents and other friends in the wider community to build sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships with organisations and individuals in Malawi. As well as sharing in the School’s fundraising, our centres in Malawi enjoy frequent visits from representatives of the School, usually delivering items carried for us in suitcases. 

Fi Shapcott set up this Edinburgh charity which takes best quality, much-loved clothing that kids (0 to 8yrs) have grown out of and redistributes it to those in need. KLC sometimes receives shoes and very kindly now donates those which are suitable to us. 

Brian Kelly, a volunteer, and Gillian Walsh, a senior officer, with the Lord Provost’s International Office, have been the driving force behind the Office’s huge, regular and continuing support of 500 miles ever since it constructed our first 500 miles Centre for us in Lilongwe in 2008 along with Glasgow City Building.  They have gone on to support all of our projects in a variety of invaluable ways.

From our very early days Mike Smith’s team at the Morningside Edinburgh branch of Mail Boxes Etc has met our every mailing, packaging, design and stationery need, and even provides our mailbox (Box 500, of course!) free of charge. 

Paolo is a photographer focused on humanitarian issues and social-documentary. His skill is creating evocative, compelling images which promote action and change for the sake of the most vulnerable people in the world. Many of the photographs on this website were taken by Paolo. 

Sandy is a consultant prosthetist/orthotist with rich experience in the health, rehabilitation and education spheres. 500 miles engaged Sandy as our Quality Improvement Consultant for Malawi in 2018. You can read more about Sandy’s work for us in Lilongwe here, or you can find out more about Sandy and her business, Rehabskills, on her website.

Rune Nilsen is a senior prosthetist/orthotist at a Norwegian prosthetics and orthotics centre called Sophies Minde Orthopedi.  Rune, who is very experienced in international development work, has generously and willingly assisted 500 miles with detailed information and extremely constructive guidance from the outset.  Rune’s colleague, Andreas Huck, designed the layout of the 500 miles Centre in Mzuzu for us. 

Smalls for All® is a fantastic Scottish charity, founded and run by Maria Macnamara. It collects underwear to help men, women and children in Africa and the UK. 500 miles needs to keep a supply of pants to preserve the dignity of patients requiring intimate fittings and who often come without underwear. Maria very kindly arranges for us to be kept well stocked-up. 

St Francis Hospital Medical Support Group (MSG) is a Dutch charity based in The Netherlands which has taken a leading role in coordinating support from Europe for St Francis Hospital in Katete, Zambia (SFH). MSG has been extremely helpful to 500 miles in sending our funds to SFH and in donating a lot of tools for use in our activities there.  MSG is also one of the partners which has funded the new physiotherapy building at SFH which will also house our small operation.