“Embark therein. In the name of Allah is its course and its anchorage. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Quran 11:41)
The emotional high point of the challenge is a wade through cold, waist-deep water. It is a symbolic crossing, and it is a direct echo of the dangerous water crossings that so many refugees have made. The mums go through together.
| When | Where | The heart of it |
|---|---|---|
| 2:45pm to 3:15pm | The lake | The wade, and what it means |
The crossing itself
The mums enter the water at a marked point and wade through a carefully supervised route to the far side. The water is cold, and the footing may be uneven. Mums link arms or hold a guide rope, and they take each step together.
Expect the quiet. Many mums find this the most moving moment of the day. Fear, cold and solidarity all come at once.
How to make it safe
This is the highest-risk part of the day, so it needs the most care. Agree each of the following with the venue in advance.
- A marked route in water no deeper than the venue has approved, with a guide rope
- Water-rescue trained staff at the entry, the middle and the exit
- A clear time limit in the water, and no one left standing in it
- Straps on rucksacks loosened or undone before entering, so a pack can be shed
- A dry, sheltered place at the exit, with towels, foil blankets and hot drinks
- First aiders ready to assess for cold shock and early hypothermia
Do the wade only if the water and the weather are safe. If the water is too cold, shorten it or swap it for another water obstacle. The theme never outranks safety.
After the water
Mums come out cold and wet. Get them moving and warm as quickly as possible. Offer towels, blankets, hot drinks and dry shelter first.
Some mums will be emotional. Guides sit with anyone who needs it. Allow quiet and do not rush to talk.
A first aider checks every mum before the group goes on. Anyone who is too cold to continue safely goes to the warm shelter, where she is looked after and rejoins the group at the finish. She has crossed the water, and nobody should treat her as having failed.
Reflection questions
- What did you feel as you stepped into the water?
- What did you feel when you reached the other side?
- Who stood beside you?
The water is behind you, and the course is not finished. One more trek remains.