Starting on 14th September, I am walking the 200 mile Coast-to-Coast path to raise money for the Cardinal Hume Centre. Having been a trustee of the Centre for over seven years I can’t think of a worthier cause to be raising money for, as I have seen the real difference they make to the lives of vulnerable young people and families, particularly crucial in these extremely difficult times.

The Coast-to-Coast path is quite a challenge for a slightly creaky 65 year old, so I have been in training over the summer walking and cycling.  The path starts at St. Bees Head on the Cumbrian coast (Irish Sea) and will take me through the Lake District, across the Yorkshire Dales and over the North York Moors, finishing at Robin Hoods Bay in Yorkshire (North Sea). It will take me two weeks: my son Hugh will be joining me for the first week and then wave me off on my own for the second.

I am pleased to be able to contribute my 200 miles to the Cardinal Hume Centre's Big 4000 Challenge. They have an ambitious target to cover a distance of 4000 miles this year and are asking their supporters to collectively help them cover the total distance!

The Big 4000 Challenge is inspired by the story of child refugee Mohsen. At 15, Mohsen fled South Sudan and travelled over 4000 miles, experiencing imprisonment and abuse before finding safety in the UK and support at the Cardinal Hume Centre.

I am hoping to raise at least £1,000 from this endeavor, and your help in reaching this target would be enormously appreciated. All amounts, however small, are welcome. For example  

£10 could pay for a vulnerable family or young person to buy food and essentials

£25 could pay for specialist advice for a family to stay in their home

£50 could pay for a bedding and essentials pack for a child refugee moving in to their new home at the Cardinal Hume Centre

£250 could support round the clock care for young people given a home at the Cardinal Hume Centre

Whatever you can give you will be helping to turn lives around. Thank you so much and wish me luck!

To learn more about the Centre and watch the story of child refugee Mohsen's please visit www.cardinalhumecentre.org.uk/big4000