On Sunday 29th September, I am running the Ealing half marathon (my first half marathon), and I am fundraising for HCPT Group 115.

At Easter this year, I was honoured to be one of a number of helpers who took disabled and disadvantaged young people on pilgrimage to Lourdes.

HCPT is a UK-based charity which runs pilgrimages to Lourdes each year for disabled and disadvantaged people from around the UK and further afield. Every Easter, over 1,000 disabled and disadvantaged children enjoy a fun and safe week in Lourdes, staying in hotels with their volunteer helpers.

For many of the young people who go on the pilgrimages, it is the first time they have been away from home without their family, and they are able to enjoy a week full of activity, adventure, laughter and new experiences in a beautiful and spiritual setting.

My trip to Lourdes at Easter this year was life-affirming. It was inspiring to witness the resilience of the young people we took to Lourdes, and I was privileged to experience first-hand the enormous enrichment the young people gained from the trip.

HCPT funds all the costs for the young people to attend the pilgrimage, and any donation would support HCPT’s mission to give more young people the chance to go on a life-changing pilgrimage.

I would be truly grateful for any donation.