A 70-year old man is heading to North Yorkshire as part of an 18-month sponsored walk across the UK to raise £100,000 for The Salvation Army’s work with homeless people and victims of human trafficking.
Andy Peddle will be donning a top hat and tails as he arrives in North Yorkshire on 27th October 2012 and will be walking through Whitby, Pickering, Thirsk, York, Driffield, Filey and Middlesbrough, including paying a visit to Middlesbrough Football Club. He will continue to the East Riding of Yorkshire before heading to Barton upon Humber, North Lincolnshire, on 14 November.
He will be passing through Harrogate on 8th November 2012 – the exact time and location will be advised nearer the time.
Having started his epic journey on 16 May in the Shetland Islands, Andy is walking to 130 Salvation Army Churches (Corps), Lifehouses, charity shops and every league football club throughout the UK.
When he arrives at each Salvation Army base, he will give a talk about the issues of human trafficking and homelessness.
Andy has just turned 70 during his walkathon and hopes to raise awareness and much-needed funds to help others.
Andy said:
The Salvation Army has a long history of offering practical support to people who are vulnerable or in need. We are there for 3,500 homeless men, women and families every night.
This is a personal pilgrimage too – we are renting out our home and my wife has relocated to the central location of Leeds while I am raising the money. I have a support van following me on my trek so I can have a break and sleep wherever needed.
Andy, from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, is keen to see people support him by doing their own ‘mini’ sponsored walks of one mile or more – and for them to put pictures of the places they visit on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.
Andy added:
I want people over the age of 65 to realise that life does go on and that you can volunteer and get involved. I would love to see as many people as possible support me.
Lieut-Colonel Bill Heeley, leader of The Salvation Army in the Yorkshire Division, said:
The Salvation Army hopes that, as a culture, we will start viewing people who are ‘homeless’ as people who have a contribution to play in our society. It is fantastic that Andy is taking on this personal pilgrimage to help those truly in need.
Andy has already completed a 8,000-mile trek to raise money for Africa families living in poverty.
Anyone can follow his progress here:www.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/walk
