France 165: 4 Men, 4 Bikes & 165 Miles

In the first week of August, good friends Pete Johnston, Bob Avery, Dave Chandler, and Stuart Lloyd are cycling a minimum of 165 miles across France (Dieppe-Rouen-Le Havre)) for "Project 165"—an important campaign to raise £165,000 for St James Church in Tunbridge Wells.

We aim to raise a minimum £1,650 toward the project.

Full disclosure: we won't be breaking any speed records. We plan to cycle about 4 hours a day. While some might see this as a jaunt, we promise you it will be a real test of our stamina, legs & arses!

Why does Project 165 & St James Church matter?

Yes, a church building is the visual heart of any community and today St James is looking a bit tired and scruffy - the roof has serious leaks causing internal damage, the facilities need urgent upgrades, and the grounds and office buildings require essential work that will ensure the survival of the building.

But this isn’t just about bricks and mortar.

Supported by over 250 volunteers, St James is a vital, living community running life-changing initiatives locally and globally. Your donation will ensure we have the buildings to continue this vital work for another 165 years.

So what vital work does St James do ?

1) Children, School & Family Outreach

•Weekly ABC Toddler Group

•'Who Let the Dads Out' for male caregivers & their children

•'Refresh'—an after-school initiative offering games and refreshments to families on their school commute.

•We proudly support pastoral care at St James’ Primary School.

2) Youth Provision(s) & Holiday Clubs

• 'Rooted': weekly youth group to provide local teenagers a safe social space

•Holiday clubs to support working parents during school breaks.

• Work in local schools and supporting a Youth Centre drop-in café in the town

3)Support for the Elderly

• Visits to local nursing homes to support elderly residents

• Provision of high-quality Church service livestreams so that housebound residents are included in our worship

4) Rough Sleepers & Street Pastoring

•Funding the Mosaic Resource Centre, providing hot meals and vital services for people at risk of homelessness in our community.

• Ecumenical Street Pastors helping vulnerable people who are out on the streets in our town at night

5) Local & Global Charity Partnerships

•Providing financial support for educational and community- based projects helping lift people out of poverty, in Tanzania, Nepal and Southern India

•Providing financial support towards the fight against leprosy through diagnosis and treatment, disability care, fighting discrimination and groundbreaking research.

In summary, St James is a vital hub of Christian service in our community and beyond. We want to secure its infrastructure so the vital work can keep going.

We would very much appreciate your help to raise these vital funds. Every single pound helps.

Thank you so much for your generosity!

(Discover more about the church's work at stjamestw.co.uk)