St Wilfrid's Centre adapts annual sponsored walk to raise money for Sheffield’s homeless and vulnerable

The 22nd annual Bishop’s Walk will take place on Monday, October 12, to help raise vital funds for St Wilfrid’s Centre – a charity which supports vulnerable adults from all backgrounds by providing them with a hot meal, shower facilities, life skills and recreational activities.

In the past, the sponsored walk has taken place in the Peak District and has seen large groups get involved.

But, due to coronavirus restrictions, it has been downscaled this year with just five socially-distanced walkers travelling making their way from the Holy Spirit Church, in Dronfield, to St Marie’s Cathedral, in Sheffield.

Ruth Moore, the new head of St Wilfrid’s, will be taking part on Monday – St Wilfrid’s Feast Day – alongside Bishop Ralph Heskett; Father Christopher Posluszny, the dean of St Marie's Cathedral; and two representatives from Notre Dame School.

She said: “I thought, because of the unusual circumstances this year, it might be nice to remind people that St Wilfrid’s is open and has carried on.

"I think people now understand what social isolation feels like so it’s an ideal time to get them to understand that actually a lot of our clients have felt that for years and years.”

The Bishop’s walk began in 1999 and has grown ever since with participants having included clients, volunteers and staff from the centre, priests and sisters from the Diocese, as well as staff from supportive schools and people from the business community.

This year, it will be based mainly in the south of Sheffield with the walkers passing churches and communities who continue to support the work of St Wilfrid's Centre.

Ms Moore added: "I’m really looking forward to meeting everybody. Given the trial I did of the route, I think I’m going to ache a lot on Tuesday morning but that’s part of the commitment to get out there.

"I really just hope it raises lots of money because every bit raised makes a big impact on our finances and certainly at the minute we’re all aware of how much charities need that support.”

To donate click here or visit the St Wilfrid’s website for more information.

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