A few days ago, I stood at the gates of the largest crime scene in human history – the place where more than 1.1 million Jews were murdered simply for being Jewish.
For the few who survived, liberation brought little immediate relief. Many were forced onto death marches and spent years in displaced-persons camps; some even tried to reach what was then the British Mandate of Palestine, risking their lives yet again.
When I learned about “The Windermere Boys” – the 300 young European Holocaust survivors who were welcomed to England’s Lake District in 1945 – I was deeply moved. So, when my friend, Mark, proposed a commemorative hike to honour their memory and share their stories, I knew I had to join. Our 50 km route retraces the journey these survivors took after landing in the UK, following years of unimaginable suffering at the hands of the Nazis and their collaborators.
We are walking to raise funds for The Fed’s My Voice project, a unique project which enables Holocaust survivors to tell their life-stories in their own words.
The survivors are interviewed by trained My Voice volunteers and their words are recorded, transcribed and illustrated into individual life-story books. These books ensure that their stories will never be forgotten and provide essential educational resources to combat Holocaust denial.
To date 45 books have been published with 15 currently in production. The books are held in schools, organisations and libraries around the world.
Please support me and help My Voice continue their vital work.