They will walk (run, swim, cycle, paddle) 500 miles … and 1,500 more. The Youth Group at St Mary’s Church in East Leake are clocking up 2,000 miles to raise money for local charity, the Friary. Below the organiser explains more.
This summer our youth group at St Mary’s are working together on a Social action project to raise the profile of the Friary in East Leake and the surrounding villages. We want to inform and encourage people to pray for their work, raising funds to keep the Friary’s services going and collect urgently needed items of clothing and footwear for the many who access the services.
Founded in 1988, the Friary was created to meet the needs of the homeless in Nottingham. Open in those early days just once a week and run by volunteers, the Friary is now a UK registered charity maintaining its distinctly Christian ethos to serve the poor and opens its doors on the Musters Road, West Bridgford, 6 days a week.
Responding to the ever-changing complex needs of the homeless, the Friary has tailored its services into the extensive provision today. The ministry serves people who are hungry, in crippling debt, homeless, struggling with mental and physical ill-health, substance misuse and addiction, unemployment, illiteracy, domestic abuse and social exclusion.
The KS3 & 4 Growing Deeper groups are spending 6 weeks walking, running, swimming, paddling, and cycling to clock up 2,000 miles, to raise money. The 10 teenagers, plus 2 adults, want to raise a pound for every mile covered. All of them will need to cover 28 miles a week for each of the 6 weeks to meet their ambitious target.
Please help them attain (or exceed!) their goal of £2000 and support the Friary continue its valuable work.
How can you get involved?
- Pray! Visit their website on https://the-friary.org.uk/ and pray for the many needs that are set out there.
- While you are there, make a donation to the St Mary’s Youth Group Fundraiser which you will see on the Fundraisers page of the Friary website www.the-friary.org.uk/fundraising/. Or go to this link: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/the-friary.
- For the next few weeks (until 31st July) the youth group is coordinating the collection of the following:
- Trainers, size 7 or 8, in reasonable condition – many homeless people walk great distances and there is a desperate need for comfortable footwear.
- Joggers/track-suit bottoms, medium size.
- Men’s t-shirts, medium and large sizes.
Collection points are outside The Rectory, Bateman Road, and at the back of St Mary’s church. Call Jo the Youth Worker on 0791 7744025 if you have any questions.
Thank you for your support – St Mary’s Youth Group.