We are a group of parishioners from St Edmund Campion and St Joseph's parishes in Maidenhead: Lisgia and
Robert, Moira and Jim, Deborah, Carolyn, Cheryl, Reena, Martha and Deryk, the Dukes family and Laura.

We all share a passion for walking and on Saturday 20^th February we will be supporting CAFOD’s Big Walk for Water, a virtual event to raise awareness of water poverty and stand in solidarity with those who walk for miles each day, like Abdella in Ethiopia, to provide water for their families.

We will be walking 5 miles each – sadly, we can’t do it together as a group due to COVID restrictions, but we know that we will be part of a community of many other CAFOD supporters in England and Wales who will be joining in.

Here are some of the reasons why we are taking part…

Deborah: “Jesus message to us was very simple “Love God, and love your neighbour as yourself”. I cannot claim to be loving to my neighbour when I am allowing them not to have
access to clean and safe water. CAFOD gives us the opportunity to reach neighbours who may usually be beyond our reach. Access to clean water is also very personal for me. When my mother died 10 years ago her wish was to have no floral tributes at her funeral but instead for all money to go to water aid. In supporting the Big Walk for Water, I feel I am living my mother’s dying wish.”

Lisgia and Robert: “We plan to take part in the Big Walk for Water, walking 10,000 steps to raise money for CAFOD's great work around the world. We feel very blessed and fortunate that water is easily accessible and with this, we hope to encourage people to contribute a small donation towards bringing clean, fresh water to those less fortunate people that are thirsty, food for the hungry or shelter to those who don't have a home.”

Carolyn: “I am doing the walk as it is quite a sobering thought that while I walk 5 miles just for pleasure and exercise many people in the world have to do it daily just to collect their water supply which we only have to turn on a tap for. I will think of this while I walk and pray the world will be a fairer place one day.”

Cheryl: "As someone who loves to walk and does so everyday for fitness and pleasure, it was not difficult to say ‘YES’ to the Big Walk For Water. We are raising money for our brothers and sisters around the world who do not have access to clean water without having to walk miles everyday. Please give whatever you can spare to help our efforts."

Reena: I am going to do the Walk for Water, a CAFOD event. Unprivileged people have to walk miles in underdeveloped countries to access water, drinking or otherwise.
I have realised safe potable water has become more important in COVID times to have a good hygiene.
I will walk 10,000 steps to help CAFOD in their projects , Please give whatever you can spare.

Martha and Deryk: We decided to join ‘The Big Walk for Water’ in solidarity with all those who are deprived of the basic right to clean drinking water. While researching the issue, we read that people in severely affected areas walk an average of 6 kms to get water, often needing to carry up to 18kg of water back with them.  We decided to use this opportunity to experience some of this hardship by carrying 18kg of water on our 5 mile walk. For each of the 40 days of Lent, Martha will also be walking for a minimum of 40 minutes. We hope to highlight the massive scale of this problem and sincerely encourage your prayers for those affected, as well as donations to CAFOD, who are at the forefront supporting this cause. Thank you. 

The Dukes family: We decided as a family to take part in 'The Big Walk for Water' to help those that dont have easy access to a natural resource that we sometimes take for granted in the UK. Hoping our small effort can make a difference in someone's everyday life.

Laura: “As a long-standing CAFOD volunteer, I am very happy to have the opportunity put my love of walking to “good use”, and it’s wonderful that other friends from the parish will be joining in for
this special event. We hope our steps, added together, will make a big difference!”

We hope that our fellow parishioners, friends and family will sponsor us to contribute to this great cause!