Parish priest finishes gruelling cross walk to help community

A PRIEST has completed a 40-mile fundraising walk from York to his church in Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire – while carrying a 27lb cross.

Father Peter Needham, from St Luke’s Church in Grimethorpe, set about the fundraising mission with church warden Mike Mowbray to try to raise the £50,000 needed to build a toilet for the congregation.

At present, the church building cannot be used for community events, which are sorely needed in the former mining village, as it lacks toilet facilities.

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Father Needham said the three-day walk, which began with a Mass at York Minster on Thursday, March 31 and ended with a social event in Grimethorpe on Saturday, April 2, has raised around £6,000 so far for the cause.

He said yesterday: “I did my normal Sunday services and, when I looked down the aisle, I was expecting to see great lorries coming towards me. That’s one of the abiding memories of the trip.”

The 54-year-old said the hardest section of the epic walk was the first day, the 15 or so miles from York to Selby, which was tackled in high winds of up to 80mph.

He added: “Mike and I took it in turns to carry the cross but, the funny thing was, it was actually easier while carrying it because it was something to focus on. We didn’t notice so much how our legs were hurting or our shoulders were aching while we were carrying it.

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“We’ve raised around £6,000 so far and the people that gave money were lorry drivers who stopped, and little children who put their hands in their pockets to give us their pennies. Unfortunately we’re leagues away from raising the full amount.”

Fr Needham previously raised £40,000 walking barefoot between Grimethorpe to York in 2003. Anyone wishing to make a donation can contact St Luke’s Church on 01226 717561.