Harrow Six start a lean Lent

The last drinks before Lent for Sally Moore and Richard Bartlett

04/03/09

Six people in Harrow have given up all drinks except water for Lent in order to raise awareness of the Diocese’s Lent Appeal.

"We in London take clean fresh water absolutely for granted. We also have an abundance of almost any other type of drink we care to think of to choose from. We go to the pub, the restaurant, or the supermarket and we don’t know where to start, we are confronted with such choice.

"For some of our brothers and sisters in Mozambique and Angola even clean fresh water is not available. In solidarity with their desire for this important basic human need - life giving water, we have pledged to drink only water during Lent.

"After a couple of days of headaches – presumably as the lack of caffeine made itself known to my body; I’m quite enjoying water now – hot, luke-warm, cold – the varieties are endless! Members of the congregation are sponsoring us in this ‘watery fast’ and we hope to raise a good deal of money as well as support, solidarity and prayers for the Alma Lent Appeal".

Alison Christian adds:

"It was Richard Bartlett's idea and it just seemed so simple and so apposite. After five days on the water diet, I appreciate water more, which I suppose rather surprises me. I'm also more aware of genuine thirst - another surprise. And of course, I can just go to a tap when I'm thirsty, which many people in our world can't. It's fairly painless but a gentle reminder all the time of what the appeal is for - a bit like a dripping tap".

Perhaps you might like to join the Harrow six for a few days on their Lenten journey or support them by making an online donation on the Lent Appeal Just Giving Page. For more information on the 2009 Lent Appeal visit www.london.anglican.org/LentAppeal.

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