Ken Burnett — for those who’ve somehow missed the last 40 years of fundraising civilization — is walking 500 miles across Spain. Again.

He did this five years ago for SOFII, the Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration. He raised £21,000. He is now, by his own admission, “five years older and more than a bit frailer,” which apparently qualifies as a reason to do it again.

Ken and his partner Ginny set off April 1st. Make of that date what you will.

Now, in preparation for this feat, Ken has catalogued 37 indispensable pieces of equipment. Thirty-seven. We know this because he sent us photographic evidence of Item #37: a pair of ten-toed socks. Ten toes. Individually cocooned. Free from “blister-inducing perspirations.”

This raises an obvious question: what are items 1 through 36?

We have theories. Possibly a very good hat. Perhaps a pocket-sized copy of “Relationship Fundraising.” A laminated list of donors who’ve promised to give more if he finishes. We may never know. What we do know is that Item #1 — the single most indispensable asset on the entire Camino — is you. The kind-hearted sponsor. Ken said so himself.

Here’s the business case: Chip Grizzard and his colleagues in Atlanta have put up $10,000 in a matching gift challenge. Every dollar you give doubles. The deadline to meet the Chip’s match is April 1st, when Ken’s boots hit the road.

Yes, you can give after April 1st. Ken and Ginny will be walking until sometime in May. The cause — keeping SOFII’s archive of fundraising best practices free and available to every fundraiser on the planet, 24/7 — doesn’t expire. But as any fundraiser reading this knows, a match deadline is a match deadline. We preach urgency for a living. Time to practice what we preach.

SOFII is the institutional memory of this profession. If you’ve ever stolen a great idea from their archive, learned from a case study, or forwarded one of their features to a colleague, you owe them one. This is the one.

Sponsor Ken and Ginny here: [JUST GIVING]

And if you happen to own a pair of ten-toed socks, wear them in solidarity.

Roger

P.S. Please, if you can, make gift to meet the match today. Then sign up to SOFII emails, for updates as the insane/intrepid pair move forward on their trek.