'Our 10 mile walk was nothing compared to what Christian children suffer'

Nathalie Raffray, Dr Caroline Hull and John Pontifex at the end of the walk

With the epic treks made by millions of displaced Christians in mind, three charity workers walked on through downpours to help those persecuted around the world.

Dr Caroline Hull, national director of Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), based in Sutton, was joined by colleagues John Pontifex and Nathalie Raffray as they undertook the Thames Moonlight 10 Miler Ultra Challenge on Friday, 12th September.

Intermittent showers didn't deter the trio who were doing a #WalkofHope for ACN's #RedWednesday campaign, an annual international movement highlighting the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities around the world.

Dr Hull said: "For me this walk is really important because we know so many people who have walked miles and miles because they have been persecuted for their Christian faith. They've had to relocate, they've had to go somewhere else, leaving everything behind."

Individually they have so far raised more than £1,500 for ACN projects including children's trauma counselling and education.

Choosing a 10 mile walk over a 10km alternative they took in all the major sites including Parliament, the London Eye, Southwark Cathedral and Tower Bridge.

By the end of 2024, a record 83.4 million people were living in internal displacement worldwide mostly due to conflict and violence - according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) - with an estimated 33.8m being children.

Africa accounts for the largest share of internally displaced children with high numbers in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Dr Hull said: "This walk raises awareness and we're also raising funds to support ACN's Red Wednesday fundraising with a target of £500K"

John Pontifex said he began walking during lockdown and the challenge was an opportunity to "walk with the suffering Christian community around the world".

He added: "We're thinking this year in particular of the situation in Nigeria and we're very conscious of the families who have had to leave their homes in the most terrible circumstances and who have had their own walk away from all that they have known, their farms their businesses, everything they've known they've had to leave behind."

On his latest visit to the African country in March he said he met displaced families where one woman told him "we had to make this journey to this refuge but all the while we so wanted to go back to restart our lives, family members are missing and still haven't come back".

He added: "The fact that they know there are people out there like us who are within them in prayer, in solidarity, giving in action is an amazing tonic, an amazing source of hope."

To sponsor the three walkers' Thames Moonlight 10 Miler Ultra Challenge visit: https://acnuk.donorsupport.co/page/FUNUKTJPNVA?fundraiser=moonlight10&member=STZRHZBJ

The #WalkofHope is a fundraising activity linked to #RedWednesday. For more information visit: https://acnuk.org/our-campaigns/redwednesday/

Read more about Aid to the Church in Need: https://acnuk.org