Intrepid walkers raise money for stranded refugee family
AROUND 90 walkers, promised £4,000 in sponsorship, tied up their trainers and tackled up to 12km in a bid to raise money for a family stranded in a Greek refugee camp.
This year’s Loughborough Christian Aid walk took place on Saturday, May 13 and saw walkers set off from Outwoods Edge Primary School and tackle either 7km or 12km.
The former Mayor and Mayoress of Charnwood, Coun David Gaskell and wife Jan, attended the event and, after a few words of encouragement from the Mayor, the walk started with a loud klaxon signal from the Mayoress.
This year Loughborough’s Christian Aid committee is concentrating its efforts on supporting Nejebar and her family.
The family are currently stranded in a Greek refugee camp after Nejebar fled Afghanistan as she feared for the safety of her children.
A spokesperson from the event told the Echo Afghan refugees are not allowed to travel to Britain to seek asylum, as the government maintains that Afghanistan is “safe”.
They also said funds raised will be used to provide the Greek camp with food, cooking utensils and equipment.
A mock-up of a refugee camp kitchen was set up in the school hall, to highlight the event’s importance.
Organiser Mike Limb commented: “Christian Aid is 60-years-old this year. It was founded to support refugees who had lost their homes and possessions in the World War II.
“It is a sad fact that, 60 years on, such work is still needed throughout the world.”
Christian Aid week continues with house-to-house envelope collections and the annual electric mobility scooter obstacle challenge ‘Scoot for a Hoot’.