Thank you so much for visiting my JustGiving page. My ambition is to walk the length of Italy to raise money for Winston’s Wish, a charity close to my heart. Over the last couple of years, I’ve walked from the Swiss border to Troia, South East of Rome, some 1450 km, following the Via di Francesco and Via Francigena. Thanks to the generosity of people like you, I’ve raised £8450 for this wonderful cause. Next April, I’ll be returning to Italy to begin the next part of the challenge: another 240 km of the southern Via Francigena. As always, I’ll be walking alone, staying in the cheapest accommodation possible and carrying everything I need in my rucksack. In the process, I hope to raise another £1000. I’d love to reach the finish line, Santa Maria di Leuca on the heel of the Italian peninsula, all in one go but other commitments and the fact that I broke my back in 2022 mean that I’ll have to break it down into manageable sections. I'll complete the whole journey sometime next year.

Winston’s Wish does amazing work to help children cope with their grief after the death of someone important to them, such as a parent or sibling. Such a loss can be devastating, but with the right support at the right time, delivered in the right way, these children can go on to flourish and lead full and rewarding lives.

My own dad died in 1972, just before my fourteenth birthday, leaving behind my mum, sister and me, the eldest of five brothers. Of course, we were heartbroken, but it wasn’t until much later in life that I realised what a profound and long-lasting impact it had had on us all. I’m sure that, given appropriate support through our grieving, things could have been so much better. Having worked in education for forty years, I’ve witnessed many occasions when a child has had to cope with the death of their mum, dad, or sometimes both, at the most sensitive and vulnerable time in their lives. It’s not always easy to know what to say or do for the best. That’s why I’m walking for Winston’s Wish, a charity that has supported tens of thousands of children and young people, helping them adjust to their new reality and, in time, to feel hopeful about the future.

I’ll start my next ‘pilgrimage’ on the 4th April and hope to reach my destination 12 days later. It will be tough going, especially for an old chap like me, but it will all be worth it if I can raise some money for this brilliant charity. Please donate whatever you can.

You’ll be able to follow my progress as I post updates on my JustGiving page and on Instagram, www.instagram.com/pauljjames58/, at the end of every day.

As well as any individual donations I might be fortunate enough to receive, I’d also be pleased to hear from businesses or corporations that might want to sponsor me in order to support Winston’s Wish.

Thank you

Paul