Coventry Cathedral to Bath Abbey

200 miles of a solo pilgrimage to celebrate my 70th birthday and raise sponsorships money for the work of IJM - read on for more details!

My last solo pilgrimage was The Pilgrim’s Way, from Winchester to Canterbury - two years ago. Time to don the boots and backpack again…..

Walking to help Women

trapped in slavery and sex trafficking

by supporting the work of International Justice Mission (IJM)

September 2023

Part of the celebrations for my 70th birthday!

Today, there are over 40 million people trapped in slavery who need rescue.

WHO or WHAT IS IJM?

“ IJM ** is the largest international anti-slavery organization. We work in almost 20 communities around the world to fight for justice on behalf of those who are being oppressed. Because of IJM supporters, families have been freed from slavery, girls from brothels and children from cybersex trafficking. ”

But there are still 40 million people who are waiting for rescue, restoration and justice. And that depends on IJM supporters—people like you & me.

So I‘m walking about 200 hundred miles in September 2023, from Coventry Cathedral to Bath Abbey, aiming to raise funds through sponsorship to help the mission of IJM – to help end slavery in our lifetime.

My route is a (fairly flat!) canal and river walk, starting from Coventry Cathedral, along the Coventry Canal to Hawkesbury Junction, then south on the Oxford Canal via Rugby and Banbury to Oxford Cathedral; the Thames Path will take me from Oxford through Abingdon and Pangbourne, on to Reading, where I turn west along the Kennet and Avon Canal past Hungerford, Newbury and Pewsey to Bath Abbey. Some 200 miles.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

- Pray. Pray, pray, pray for the work of IJM. Pray for the walk, for safety, for strength and for determination to finish and walk every single step from Coventry Cathedral to Bath Abbey.

- Provide a bed or a meal along the way. Do you live near the route? Could you pick me up from the path, drive me to your home and give me DBnB for a night? (and take me back the next morning!)

- Promenade. Join me for a day to walk. Ask others to sponsor you too for IJM for the miles you walk.

- Pledge Sponsor the miles I do by making a donation to my IJM fundraising page on JUSTGIVING: www.justgiving.com/page/coventry-bath-pilgrimage

** IJM was founded by Gary Haugen, who was a member of the church where I served in ministry in Virginia. IJM is now a global organisation, partnering with local justice systems to end violence against people living in poverty, with the aim TO END SLAVERY, TRAFFICKING AND VIOLENCE.

Read the story of how IJM began and where it is today here

By giving, you will help send freedom, protection and justice to people in urgent need, and help IJM's local teams and partners walk with people who have experienced violence and slavery so they can rebuild their lives in freedom.

I'd love to raise £10 for every mile I walk.

Would you help me do this with a small contribution towards my goal?

And then together we can support IJM and their valuable work around the globe to help those who need it most and end slavery, trafficking and violence.

Thank you in advance for whatever you're able to donate. I'll be posting on my website at the end of each day's walk, so you can follow my progress there!

And do come and join me for a day of walking along the way if you'd like to - and maybe have your friends sponsor you too to add to the amount we can raise for IJM.

Sponsor my walk for IJM here Thank you.

Proposed itinerary/mileage The plan (subject to finalisation at the moment!) :

Part One: Coventry and Oxford Canals

Coventry Cathedral to Oxford Cathedral

Part Two: Thames Path

Oxford Cathedral to Reading

Part Three: Kennet and Avon Canal

Reading to Bath Abbey