In 1961 a group of students and lecturers missed the last train back to Manchester from Lancaster. In their eternal wisdom, they decided to walk the 55-miles back to Manchester.

This started a tradition of the Bogle-stroll - an annual walk that took place replicating the walk in distance (even if the route had changed slightly). Between 1962 and 2017, the walk continued to run and at it's peak more than 2,000 people walked the Bogle each year. More details about the history of the walk can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogle_Stroll.

I have taken part in the Bogle Stroll for the last 8 years, and have been disappointed in the dwindling number of people taking part. This year, due to resources, the Bogle will not be running. However, in the spirit of those mad people who did the walk in 1961, I will be walking the route on my own this year in a bid to raise a bit more money for L'Arche. This will involve seeing the delights of Stockport Road in the early hours, the curry mile - when the takeaways are shut - the beauty of Oldham Road, and the countryside of North Manchester, and the final flurry through Salford.

L'Arche is an international organisation that aims to build communities of people who live and work together in all aspects of daily life. These communities focus on growing together and looking at the values that each and every person can contribute to the community. I have seen this first hand in Manchester (where I live), Preston, Liverpool and Ipswich. In the last year, new houses have opened in both Preston and Manchester, a new community is taking ground in Nottingham and a new property has been acquired in Ipswich. These all offer great opportunities to realise the potential in so many amazing people who are often written off by society.

With your help, this work will be able to continue. If you are able to offer anything at all, then this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much.

David