This famous route “route of the stars” takes pilgrims along the beautiful and peaceful countryside across the north of Spain, ending at the extraordinary Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The route has existed for over a thousand years, offers a physical, mental and spiritual challenge to all that take it on.
A CAFOD training event run by Sian Hughes & Kit Lewis and past pilgrims Tony McNicoll & Greg Clark took place in late August at the Savio House Retreat Centre, Bollington. An ideal place on the edge of the Peak district and covered a mixture of spiritual, practical and physical training to prepare the prospective pilgrims for their journey ahead. The picture taken on the hillside looking down to Savio House from White Nancy - some 900 ft above sea level.
 |
| From El Camino |
A slideshow of photographs taken on the last day of training follow:
Each pilgrim is tasked with raising funds for CAFOD and, by walking in community with other supporters of CAFOD.
Alban aims to raise over £6,000, to make a real difference and transform the lives of some of the poorest people around the world. When asked why CAFOD? He said “every pound raised through CAFOD counts – it doesn’t get lost in the coffers of foreign governments, but goes to those in need through CAFOD’s local partners and focused where it can achieve the biggest benefit. Sponsorship will go to items that will help these people, help themselves, out of poverty; for example:
£ 1.35p - can by a plate and food for a malnourished child in El Salvador
£ 3 - can buy a school kit – pens, pencils, books, and a school bag for a child in Mozambique
£ 12 - can buy a hygiene kit for a family affected by floods in Pakistan
£ 20 - can provide training in ceramics production for five women in Peru
£ 25 - can buy an emergency shelter kit for a family made homeless by an earthquake
£ 50 - can buy a bicycle in Zambia allowing them to support people living with HIV/AIDS
£125 - provides training in sustainable techniques, helping small scale growers in Nicaragua support their families & the environment
£520 - provides a new cyclone-resistant house for a family who’ve lost everything in Bangladesh.”
If you’d like to help Alban then why not sponsor him on this journey and in doing so help the poorest of the world out of poverty by visiting his fundraising page by clicking here (if that doesn't work then copy http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CAMINO-Sept2011 into your internet browser).
More posts will follow this covering some of our reflections and pictures from each day of the pilgrimage - please keep us in your thoughts and prayers...
