Fourteen teenagers from a North Harrow parish have raised more than £500 for families caught up in the Venezuela crisis after completing a sponsored pilgrimage walk across west London.
The group, all members of St John Fisher Parish, laced up their trainers on 13 September for a walk of more than five kilometres from their home church in North Harrow to St Gregory the Great Church in South Ruislip. The route wound through parkland alongside Yeading Brook, and the young walkers covered the distance in just under an hour.
Dressed in matching red T-shirts, the teenagers were hard to miss — and passers-by proved happy to dig deep. Several stopped to ask what the walk was for, with some adding spontaneous donations to the collection on the spot. By the finish line, the total had sailed past the group’s original target.
The appeal supports Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) and its work in Venezuela, where a prolonged humanitarian crisis has left millions in need of help after years of economic and political turmoil, compounded by a double earthquake in July.
The walkers, who had recently completed their parish Confirmation programme, were joined on the route by parish priest Father Graham and a team of catechists. Before setting off, Father Graham spoke to the group about the long tradition of pilgrimage — and how a physical journey can also be a spiritual one, drawing walkers closer to their faith.
At the finish, the group was welcomed at St Gregory the Great by parish priest Father Paulo Bagini, who told them the story of St Gregory’s role in sending St Augustine to England. The teenagers then joined their families and fellow parishioners for Mass.
One of the young walkers said the day had been about more than fundraising: “The walk gave us a chance to spend time together again after our Confirmation programme had ended. It was encouraging to see people stopping to ask about why we were walking and wanting to support the appeal.”
“Knowing that we have exceeded our target makes us feel that we can make a difference, even through a small action.”
Catechist Jan Bennett, who helped organise the walk, said the teenagers had been determined to turn belief into practical help: “The young people wanted to put their faith into action by helping others. The walk not only raised funds but also helped them understand that communities facing poverty and hardship overseas depend on the support and solidarity of people here in Harrow.”
“We hope our small effort will help to raise awareness of the tragedy in Venezuela and encourage others to contribute to the appeal.”
The walk at a glance
- Who: 14 teenagers from St John Fisher Parish, North Harrow
- What: A sponsored pilgrimage walk of more than 5km
- When: 13 September
- Route: St John Fisher Church, North Harrow to St Gregory the Great Church, South Ruislip, via parkland along Yeading Brook
- Time: Just under an hour
- Raised: More than £500 — beating the target
- Cause: Aid to the Church in Need’s work in Venezuela
Who the money helps
Aid to the Church in Need is a pontifical charity of the Catholic Church, founded in 1947 to support Christians facing persecution, discrimination and poverty around the world. It now works in around 140 countries, funding emergency relief, the rebuilding of churches, transport for clergy and training projects.
In Venezuela, the charity backs parishes and religious communities on the front line of a deepening humanitarian emergency. Years of economic collapse and political instability have left millions struggling to afford food and medicine, while a double earthquake in July added to the pressure on already stretched aid networks. Money raised in Harrow will go towards ACN projects supporting those communities with essentials and pastoral care.
Why it matters in Harrow
A few hundred pounds raised on a Saturday morning walk may sound modest, but for a parish youth group it is a serious achievement — and the teenagers say the awareness raised matters as much as the cash. Their red T-shirts turned an ordinary stroll through the parkland into a talking point, with strangers stopping to learn about a crisis unfolding thousands of miles away.
It is also part of a wider London story of ordinary people taking on physical challenges for good causes, from charity challenge events across the capital to community-led efforts in the capital — and another example of young Londoners making their mark well beyond their own neighbourhoods.
With their target beaten and donations still coming in, the group say they hope their example encourages other young people — in Harrow and beyond — to turn a walk in the park into help for someone in need.
