Sponsored walk in memory of Sam

Sponsored walk in memory of Sam

I’d like to thank all those in the village who sponsored me for my fund raising walk across the North Yorkshire Moors.  The total amount for the walk so far stands at £2,884.  In late September, my youngest daughter Kate and I managed the 53 mile trek on a circuitous route from Sutton-under Whitestonecliffe to Whitby. Most of the four days was spent trudging through pouring rain and evenings were spent drying out the entire contents of our rucksacks! Despite this it was a wonderful experience.

The venture was to help towards our annual target (£5,500) for the charity set up in memory of our son, Sam, who died in 2010 during a gap year travelling in India. The Sam Banks Fund raises
money to support bursaries for low income students who attend Pathshala South Asian Media Institute in Dhaka – Sam was set to study film and photography after his travels. Since his death 9 years ago the fund has raised £40,300 and supported over 20 low income students. A Pathshala alumnus has recently had his photograph featured on the cover of National Geographic.

The Yorkshire moors was chosen as a location for the sponsored walk as it is where Sam filmed a short documentary entitled ‘In Search of Old Albion’. We attempted to visit all the locations where
he and his school friend stopped to film: Helmsley, Church Houses, Danby Moor, Goathland and Whitby. Rievaulx Abbey was a first day stop – a place that was special to Sam and where he took the family on his last Christmas before he died. Earlier this year Tanvir Murad, the Head of Photography at Pathshala came over from Dhaka and visited the Banks family in Lympstone. During his
stay he met villagers who have either provided camera equipment or financial support. He also gave a presentation at the Sailing Club, about the work of the Institute and the achievements of
the Sam Banks scholars. In a message after his trip he wrote “It was an emotional tour for me. I liked every minute that I spent with you all and of course with all the people I met in the village. I felt I was with my family. “
Louise Banks

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