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Walk The Way Raises £2,500

Published on: 18 Oct, 2021
Updated on: 18 Oct, 2021

On Saturday, October 9, more than 30 walkers from churches around the Diocese of Guildford took part in a sponsored walk along the North Downs Way.

The walk raised funds for vulnerable and marginalised people in the diocese, which covers most of Surrey, and parts of North-East Hampshire and West Sussex.

One party, led by the Bishop of Dorking, the Rt Revd Dr Jo Bailey-Wells, set off from near Dorking, while the other. led by the Bishop of Guildford, the Rt Revd Andrew Watson, set off from Farnham. Both walks were about 12 miles and started near the east and west boundaries of the Diocese of Guildford.

Both parties met at the footbridge at St Catherine’s that takes the North Downs Way over the River Wey.

So far, more than £2,500 has been raised by the walk, which is the first of what is hoped will become an annual event.

The walk was organised by the Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund, which provides grants to projects initiated by Church of England churches (and those in active partnership with them).

The projects support people with disabilities and mental ill-health, provide facilities and services for older citizens, children and young people, support families and disadvantaged communities, provide practical help for the financially challenged and offer training and skills programmes

Speaking at the end of the walk, Bishop Andrew said: “When I came to the Diocese of Guildford from Birmingham in 2014, I was moving from the diocese with the most deprivation in England to the one with the least. But what struck me is how much more challenging it is for those living in deprivation when surrounded by the relative wealth of those who live nearby, which often conceals the conditions they are living in.

“This emphasises how important it is that our churches play their part in reaching out into their local communities to those who need our support.

“I am very grateful for all those who walked today and their sponsors who helped us raise such a splendid total.”

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