Last year I fulfilled a personal desire to walk the Camino or Way of St James to the magnificent Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain. I had thought about doing it for many years and then decided it was time to be done with procrastination and join this ancient pilgrim path that has been followed for centuries by Christians from across the world. In 2016 I was one of almost 280,000 pilgrims to complete The Way - the vast majority of which (92%) did so for religious reasons. Most of us travelled by foot (as the memory of my five blisters will testify!), but others journeyed by bike, horseback and wheelchair.  

Those who do so for reasons of faith are primarily motivated by the connection with James the Apostle as it was in Santiago that his remains were discovered in the 9th century. But Christian pilgrims also have their own personal reasons too and mine were chiefly about doing penance and using the long hours of walking to reflect on my life and make a fresh commitment to Christ. I am not easily given to exaggeration but it was truly one of the most moving experiences of my life and I am even now moved to tears as I think about it. 

I am working with others towards a target of raising £25,000 to sustain the vital, life-giving support offered by Premier Lifeline - Premier's listening telephone service that operates from 9am to midnight each day of the week, every day of the year. Thousands avail of this service and I would be deeply grateful if you would make a donation to keep these Christian friendship lines alive and available for those in need of a listening ear and the power of prayer. 

£25,000 seems like a lot to raise but I am not alone as those who will walk or coach with me from July 14 to 21 will work as a team and do the best they can to add towards the total. At the time of hitting the keyboard it's just over a month to the starting line and the fundraising will continue during the walk and afterwards.      

As well as asking for your financial support for the ministry of Premier Christian Radio and Premier Lifeline, I am also inviting others to join me in this faith-filled experience. I travelled on my own last year and raised over £13,000 for Tearfund but this year we have 40 places available for others to join me in support of Premier Lifeline. With less than two months to go these places are filling up fast. I will be your spiritual guide and faith friend leading prayers each day as well as walking the way. It will be a 70 mile journey over 7 days but don't panic! We will have an air-conditioned coach to accompany us throughout so you can choose to walk as much as you are able for on a day - 15 minutes, half an hour, an hour. Or you can stay on the coach and take in the beauty of the Spanish countryside.

I'm also known to sing a song or tell a tale so it will be a fun and faithful experience. I could go on but the best thing to do is to contact McCabe Pilgrimages who are taking care of all the practical arrangements. You can reach them during office hours Monday to Friday on 020 8675 6828 and they will be able to answer any questions you might have. They're a Christian company and experts in the field of pilgrimages. You can also go to www.premierchristianradio.com/camino where you can read all about it there and download the brochure. What more can I say? Well, I would love to have your company and if you can't travel with us please donate anything you can afford to keep Premier Lifeline alive.            

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to Premier Lifeline through the Premier Media Trust. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for Premier Lifeline. If you can Gift Aid your donation that will add even more to your offering.