Self-funding sponsored bicycle pilgrimage from Worcester to Lourdes, France

My name is Frank Tota and I am a governor at Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic college in Worcester. On 5th May 2026, I will begin my 800 mile sponsored bicycle ride from Worcester to Lourdes, to raise money to complete the building and furnishing of St David's Medical Centre, Nyandoro, Zimbabwe. Archbishop Bernard Longley has kindly endorsed this project and I will be able to meet him in Lourdes when I arrive on 25th May. This is when the pilgrims of the Archdiocese of Birmingham arrive. My sponsored cycle ride to Lourdes is completely self-funded and all the money that you donate will go towards the St David’s Medical Centre.

The story of St David's Medical Centre goes back to 2014 when Mrs Sonya Thomas was teaching at John Henry Newman Catholic College. Tinashe, a student at the college, told Sonya about his mum, Agnes Tefani and her connection to Nyandoro, Zimbabwe. Her home village was suffering from a serious lack of medical provision. The nearest medical centre is 20 km away and across a river. People in Nyandoro are suffering when trying to make that journey. Villagers have died because they have not been able to access medical care.

Fundraising began in earnest in 2014 and when Sonya had left John Henry Newman in 2017, the foundations had been built. However, political turmoil and hyperinflation in Zimbabwe pushed up prices, making it far more costly to build the medical centre.

Sonya began working as Vice Principal at Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College, Worcester and the community kindly agreed to pick up the baton and take on the responsibility for completing the medical centre. However, soon after this COVID took place and delayed the project once again.

Not only is the college community involved, but the whole of Catholic Worcester has raised thousands of pounds for this project. By the grace of God and after much prayer and fund raising, since COVID, the medical centre is now close to completion.

I would be very grateful for your donations to complete this project and I promise to remember your kindness as I pray at the Grotto of Lourdes. When you make a donation please leave a prayer request for me, so I can pray for your intention personally at the grotto in Lourdes.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

St Bernadette, pray for us.

Blessed Edward Oldcorne, pray for us.