CA Lourdes 125 Sponsored Walk: East Anglia completes the walk

125 MILES COMPLETED IN CELEBRATION OF 125 YEARS SINCE THE CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION FIRST CAME TO LOURDES ON PILGRIMAGE.

First – thank you to all the supporters of this walk. Our intention was to raise £1,250 but according to the sponsorship page, we are now 151% above the target and very close to £2,000. This is amazing – thank you everyone! All these donations will go towards the #CALourdes125 campaign to bring many others to Lourdes with the CA.

Can you help us to reach £2000? https://www.justgiving.com/page/calourdes125sw

The final part of the walk took part in the Diocese of East Anglia. Matt started in Sawston, met Colette Sharrock for a coffee and a catch up. After that they met up with Julie Ball and walked to Our Lady of Lourdes parish church in Sawston (a church which has supported the CA for many years including AGMs, parishioners and storage (at one point) of handmaid uniforms) for Mass. After a spot of lunch, Matt walked through the fields surrounding Sawston until the main road into Cambridge. In 30-degree heat and no shelter (just like most days on the walk!!), Matt walked all the way along that road to another big CA supporter for many years - the church of Our Lady of the Assumption and the English Martyrs. There he was greeted with a bottle of prosecco and smiles by Aodain and Julian Clover – a great surprise and it was lovely to sit and sup the success of 125 miles (and of course 125 years of the CA Pilgrimage to Lourdes).

Matt has walked all 125 miles now. From Stonyhurst College in Lancashire, on to Clifton Diocese, then on to Southwark Archdiocese, then on to Portsmouth Diocese to celebrate our CA Annual friends, and then on to Northampton Diocese, before finishing in East Anglia Diocese – with lots of walking throughout. Matt was interviewed yesterday on BBC Three Counties Radio about his experience of walking these 125 miles and his conclusion to them was:” …it has been amazing!”.

After so much walking, you can have mixed feeling about its conclusion: first because it is so enjoyable and you see so much on your walks - as well as meet so many wonderful people along the way. Secondly, it is tiring and your muscles ache a lot and you are ready to get out of the baking sun. It is mainly the first one that wins out, because it has been a fantastic experience and I have seen so much of this beautiful country whilst I walk around. I and all the people that joined me are also very grateful to each and everyone of you for your support in donations and prayers – THANK YOU.

The gesture from Aodain and Julian yesterday - plus the many gestures throughout the walk from friends has been appreciated throughout – thank you everyone.

Final thanks to my family: Terri and our children for supporting me the whole 125 miles and beyond. Thank you.