A Parish priest will be taking on the epic challenge of running over 900km for a Salford homeless charity.
Father Chris Gorton will be running the famous Camino de Santiago from Lourdes in France, until he reaches the Cathedral de Santiago in Spain.
Fr Chris started the challenge on Monday 16 September, and will run the huge distance until Wednesday 23 October.
Running in aid of Caritas Diocese of Salford, the charity helps support people across Greater Manchester who experience poverty, disadvantage, discrimination, and homelessness.
Already raising over his initial goal of £2000, the challenge will serve as a great reminder of what is possible, with the challenge providing a display of mental and physical strength.
And that is the exact intention of the Caritas Every Step Campaign, as it encourages people to come out of their comfort zone by taking on a physical or mental challenge.
Ahead of the monumental task, Fr Chris said: “I want it to be a shared experience to help raise awareness and funds for the different Caritas projects which are close to my heart.
And although he aims to take on this huge task, with the distance being the same as running from Manchester to Dundee and back.
However, he won’t be doing it alone starting the run with his nephew Ben.
Best of luck to Fr Chris Gorton and his nephew, Ben, who began their Camino challenge from Lourdes yesterday!
To find out more about this incredible fundraising pilgrimage for our diocesan charity, Caritas Salford, please head to https://t.co/S6IwbB3qYX pic.twitter.com/AkLDc2y2tr
— Diocese of Salford (@SalfordDiocese) September 18, 2024
And in the hopes to inspire others he has encouraged schools to consider taking on a challenge of their own by pledging to run or walk a set distance every day that he is running, or to agree to walk for a set time each day.
As Fr Chris added: “To challenge the children and young people to achieve something very worthwhile in their own setting. I hope it will also give them the confidence to try other challenges.”
As well as that he will also be joined by the Salford Bishop, Bishop John Arnold, who will run alongside Father Chris on some of the route.
With Bishop John Arnold adding: “On hearing about Father Chris and his epic challenge I was keen to join him for some of the trip, and I am really looking forward to taking part.
“The challenge really is about enabling the work of Caritas Salford as it walks alongside people, helping them to transform their lives with dignity.”
It will hopefully be enough to carry the Parish of St Cuthbert in Bolton through to the end and reach the Cathedral de Santiago.
Fr Chris added: “Runners are called Rungrims, but I’ll certainly be putting the shell on my rucksack to make it clear this is a pilgrimage too.
“I look forward to sharing some of the moments of training and challenges along the way.”
And with the money raised, Patrick O’Dowd the director of Caritas Salford said: ““We’re in awe of this amazing challenge that Father Chris has set himself.
“It’s an incredible distance to run and it’s fantastic that schools are going to be joining in their own way to mark his challenge too.”
With winter closing in families will once again need support through the cost-of-living crisis.
As Patrick continued to praise efforts like this to support charities and families through these tough times, he said: “People like Father Chris is so vital and we can’t thank him and anyone else who is able to consider raising funds enough.
“We really do appreciate it and couldn’t do what we do to support local people without you.”
A link to the JustGiving Page can be found here – with the aim being to raise as much as possible in amongst the cost-of-living crisis.
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