A member of a church in Durham Diocese will walk from South London to Gateshead as part of a mission to raise awareness of homelessness and to raise funds for charity.
Retired civil servant Philip Le Marquand, 68, who is a member of the congregation at St Albans, Windy Nook, will take on the near 400-mile trek in aid of the homelessness charity Oasis Community Housing.
Philip, a keen walker who recently completed the 500-mile Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain, will walk from the Oasis' project in Peckham to the organisation's Basis Drop-in Project, in Gateshead.
He said: "The issue of homelessness has been very close all through my life. I have always had an affinity with people who were homeless.
“Now I’m living a nice, comfortable life, I want to do something to help. I love walking, and this is something that I can do. I want to raise some money for Oasis Community Housing, but also to raise awareness. I love Oasis’ idea of giving people multiple chances. That really resonates with me."
Philip was one of the founders of Aquilla Housing, which later became Oasis Community Housing, nearly 40 years ago. But it was a personal re-exploration of his Christian faith during the death of his best friend, John, to cancer last year, that led Philip to want to take on major walks like this.
"Walking has helped with the grief," he said. "But I wanted this to be a walk that would help other people."
Starting on Thursday (7th September), the 385-mile walk will take Philip through Peterborough, Lincoln, York and Durham, ultimately arriving in Gateshead on 2nd October.
"I am really looking forward to it," he added. "I love walking. I feel wonderful when I’m walking. It gives me a sense of my place in the world, and I’m so interested in the nature that I’ll see along the way.’
The Revd Danie Lindley, Priest in Charge at St John, Gateshead Fell and St Alban, Windy Nook, said some representatives from the church would be joining him as he reaches the North-East.
Oasis Community Housing is a charity which works with people facing homelessness in London, and the North-East of England. Working with Northumbria University, it has shown that 94 percent of all those facing homelessness have experienced trauma. It is working to tackle that trauma.
David Smith, CEO of Oasis Community Housing said: "Forty years ago, Philip was one of those compassionate people who helped ignite our work of supporting people who are homeless. We love the fact that, all these years later, we’re still benefiting from his commitment and compassion.
"Philip’s walking challenge both shines a light on the effect that trauma and grief can have on those facing homelessness, and at the same time raises vital funds that will help people who are homeless. We’re so honoured he’s supporting us in this way."
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This article is based on a press release from Oasis Community Housing which is promoting Philip’s walk. For more information visit their website here
Images of Philip Le Marquand by The Revd Danie Lindley.