84-year-old fundraiser’s 200km Lent challenge
Woking resident Thereza Macnamara is doing Lent differently this year. Rather than giving something up, Thereza has decided to take something on – a charity fundraiser for the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD).
CAFOD’s ‘Big Lent Walk’ challenges participants to tread 200km in 40 days to provide clean water for thousands of people across the world. Over 1,000 fundraisers across the country will take part this year, including groups from schools and parishes. Also joining Thereza in her mission are some familiar famous faces - BBC Traitors winner Harry Clark and England football legend Sue Smith.
Thereza said: “As I approach my 85th birthday, I’m determined to keep active and raise as much money as I can for such a wonderful cause. There are people living in rural communities in southern Ethiopia that walk for six hours every day to collect clean water. I can’t imagine how tough that is.
“The challenge is to walk 5 km a day for 40 days, but I am hoping to walk at least 10 km or more each day. Receiving lovely messages from supporters helps keep me going – when I did my first ever fundraising challenge for CAFOD, one little girl gave up her pocket money for the week, and another young sponsor said she hopes to do 10,000 steps per day when she gets to my age.”
To sign up for the Big Lent Walk, please visit: https://cafod.org.uk/fundraise/big-lent-walk