130 Miles Completed – Reflections on Walking for Children in Palestine

Earlier this year, I shared why I had chosen to spend my 65th birthday walking the ancient Llwybr Cadfan pilgrimage route in North Wales in support of ABCD Bethlehem.

I’m delighted to say that, over Easter week and again at the end of May, I completed the full 130-mile journey.

The walk brought together two things that are very close to my heart: a place with deep personal meaning and a cause I care about deeply – supporting children with disabilities in Palestine through ABCD’s work.

Walking the route was a truly inspiring experience. I have so many memories of special holy places, magnificent scenery and rare wildlife, including St Cadfan’s Church in Tywyn, with its remarkable ancient inscribed stones, and St Tanwg’s Church, a tiny building nestled among the dunes that both shelter and threaten it. I also stopped at St Hywyn’s Church in Aberdaron, where pilgrims have gathered for centuries before making the crossing to Bardsey Island.

The scenery was equally memorable. One of the highlights was looking across from near Harlech and seeing the entire southern coastline of the Llŷn Peninsula sparkling in the sunshine. The journey culminated on Bardsey Island (Ynys Enlli), where St Cadfan served as abbot in the sixth century. It is a beautiful and mysterious place, with its distinctive mountain rising from the sea, grey seals calling from the shoreline, choughs wheeling overhead and sea pinks carpeting the landscape.

I was accompanied throughout the walk by my wife, Deborah, and our dachshund, Marley. Together, we took the time to enjoy the landscape, meet people along the route and share the story of ABCD’s work. Wearing our ABCD t-shirts sparked many conversations, giving us opportunities to talk about the challenges faced by children with disabilities in Palestine and the importance of supporting them.

This walk formed part of ABCD’s Palestine Relay, a collective challenge to cover the distance from London to Bethlehem while raising funds and awareness for children with disabilities. The funds raised through my walk will support Hope Through Hearing, ABCD’s 40th Anniversary Project, which aims to establish a dedicated audiology centre in Al Am’ari refugee camp. The centre will provide vital hearing assessments, hearing aids and specialist support for children who would otherwise struggle to access these life-changing services.

Thank you to everyone who has donated, encouraged and followed my progress. Your support will help create opportunities for children in Palestine to hear, learn, communicate and thrive.

If you would still like to support my walk and ABCD’s Hope Through Hearing campaign, donations can still be made here.

Thank you for helping to make every mile count.