St Joseph’s Pilgrims Spread Hope for Sick Kids

A group of teachers and staff at a Dudley primary school who took on a 22-mile pilgrimage to spread hope in honour of the Catholic Jubilee Year raised over £1,960 for our charity.

Ten staff from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School laced up their trainers to walk St Chad’s Way – a known pilgrimage route between St Chad’s Cathedral in Birmingham, to Lichfield Cathedral. It was part of the school’s wider ongoing celebrations of the Jubilee Year, which is typically celebrated every 25 years. The Jubilee theme was ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ so to join the school’s pupils who have taken on smaller pilgrimages and other themed activities, the staff set themselves their own challenge.

The team, which included the school’s Principal, Sam Chapman, agreed they didn’t just want their pilgrimage to be symbolic, but to give back to the community and together they chose to fundraise for us. Sam said: “As a school we’ve followed the journeys of many pupils and even staff’s families who have received care at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and working with children ourselves, it only felt right to support a charity that gives hope to so many families.

The team, dressed in their specially made ‘St Joseph’s Pilgrims’ t-shirts, set off bright and early to conquer the 22-mile route. Thankfully the weather was on their side and spurred on by messages of hope from other staff back at the school, after a long day of walking the team reached their final destination in Lichfield.

Sam said: “Walking such a long distance in one day really challenged us but it was incredibly rewarding. We managed to raise awareness of the hospital too as our t-shirts caught the attention of people we passed, and we were able to explain what we were doing. One lady even made a donation there and then!

“We’re really proud of our fundraising total and we’d like to thank all our pupils, their families and our colleagues for their support, especially as we know it’s such a financially difficult time for many.”

Annie Eytle, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “It’s no mean feat to walk 22 miles in one day and in doing so St Joseph’s Pilgrims have raised a fantastic amount that will help us continue supporting our brave patients, and giving them hope. We’re so grateful for their support.”