The Borrowdale valley is beautiful in that representative English way. Stone walls. Stone bridges. Stone houses. Cold streams. Green pastures. Sheep centuries old. Lambs born yesterday.

Today, I walk from Seatoller to Grasmere. Upon reaching the pass, I have to choose which route to follow. Once again, the High route or the Valley route. Since it is drizzling when I start around 8:45AM, the weather might make the choice for me. We’ll see.

The trail leaves the valley floor gradually. Breakfast digestion is so much easier when the trail begins gradually rather than steeply! Not far along the slow incline, I meet Clifford, Suzanne, and Christine. We chit chat. Christine is from Durham, the others not far from Durham. After walking a bit, I ask “Why are you walking the Coast to Coast?” Suzanne quietly says “We are Ramblers for Rory.” Therein lies a story.

Rory is her recently born grand-daughter, with a heart defect. Because she would not live long, the doctor’s recommended a heart transplant. Only a few months ago when Rory was seven months old, she received a heart transplant. A heart transplant for an almost one-year old! Amazing. As Clifford quietly said “The utter tragedy of one family; the miraculous possibility of life for another family.” Apparently, Rory is the youngest infant in the world to receive this particular heart transplant procedure.

Who are the Ramblers for Rory? Family and friends. Not giving into helplessness, they feel compelled to do something. They aren’t in the surgical room; they are in the pastures, hills, and mountains of northern England. They aren’t privately whispering hopeful words of comfort to each other; they are a walking, public story eliciting strength from others, and offering strength to others. Offering others strength of human spirit especially when joined together.

Suzanne shows me a photo of a young mother and father and Rory. All have big, beaming smiles. Whatever happens in the months and years ahead, there is that wonderful photo of three smiling faces.

Of course, I had to pull out my wallet to donate to the charity “Ramblers for Rory.” Courage, hope, and joy have to be recognized.