The first charity walk on the trail

Oct 16

2 min read

At least as far as we are aware.

Here's the message we received which explains the background to the walk:

Help Support Our 30 Miles Walk for Growing Hope

Growing Hope is a charity close to my heart because of the incredible support they provide to families like mine. My 8-year-old son, Eeben, has been diagnosed with autism, and we've experienced firsthand the challenges that families with additional needs face. Growing Hope offers free therapy for children and young people with additional needs in partnership with local churches across the UK. They provide life-changing support, including occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and music therapy, helping children reach their potential. They also support parents, carers, and siblings, bringing hope where it’s been lost due to isolation or rejection.

Here's a short video about their work:

This October (26-28th), along with my son Eeben and my Mum, Matthea, we will walk 30 miles on the Saint Aelred’s Pilgrim Trail—a new 41-mile route linking all the churches in the Benefice of Helmsley and Upper Ryedale. This trail honours Saint Aelred, Abbot of Rievaulx Abbey, and celebrates his love for walking, history, friendship, and writing.

We are walking to raise funds for Growing Hope so that more families can access the support they desperately need. Setting up and running a Growing Hope clinic costs £50,000 in its first year, and every donation will help transform the lives of children with additional needs and their families.

Please support us by donating through our JustGiving page.

Every little bit helps, and together we can grow hope for families in need.

PS - Shout out to:

On 26th October we are covering Stage 1 and 2 of the trail. Fiona from Shepherd’s Hut (Coniser Farm, Bilsdale ) is collecting and transporting us to her farm where we will be fed and accommodated. The next day she will drop us off at St John’s to complete stage 3 - 5 and then Fiona will kindly collect us again and transport us to her farm to be fed and accommodated there, yet again. On Monday 28 Oct she will drop us off at St Mary’s where we will then go ahead and finish stage 6 and 7 and return to our car in Helmsley.