Pilgrim's charity walk to Santiago

Gareth Thomas, a former teacher from Canterbury, Kent, is preparing to embark on a journey from London to Santiago de Compostela in Spain for a disabled children's charity next month.
Mr Thomas, who gave up his day job as a teacher in order to discern his vocation and walk 1,300 miles, will leave from Westminster Cathedral on May 12 at 11.15 am.
Beginning on the steps of the Cathedral with a pilgrim's blessing by a priest, he will embark on a walk that will take him across the English Channel by boat, through France and then to Spain. He hopes to raise . £10.000 for the mobility charity Whizz-Kidz.
Last year he also walked to Santiago de Compostela, one of Europe's most important pilgrimage sites. At the time he started in the Pyrenees, and walked 500 miles. Mr Thomas's decision to leave the Archbishop's School in Canterbury, where he was a teacher, came as he began to discern a vocation to the priesthood. He hopes to begin his seminary formation in September 2008, Most of Mr Thomas's £10,000 target will be achieved through intemet giving and the money he raises will go towards helping change the lives for some of the 70,000 disabled children around the country by providing mobility equipment, training or information.
A member of the Confraternity of St James, the association of devoted Santiago pilgrims, Mr Thomas said: "The Santiago pilgrimage has seen a huge revival in recent years and is very popular with walkers, moun tain bikers and those on horseback. Most people walk the Spanish section, from the Pyrenees to Santiago, so the extra challenge of walking all the way from London is exciting.
"I love walking and it is a privilege to help support disabled children move forward with their lives."
Les Amis de Saint Jacques in France have already offered their support, providing Mr Thomas with maps of the French leg and some English expatriates have offered him accommodation along the way.
Whizz-Kidz has changed the lives of over '7,500 disabled children since 1990 — often literally overnight.
The charity supports young people to access the right mobility equipment, including powered wheelchairs, at the right time.
Whizz-Kidz also delivers wheelchair skills-training and other life skills to help their transition from childhood to adulthood.
Mr Thomas will keep a regular blog throughout his journey. For an update on his progress please visit www.whizz-kidzpilgrim.blogspot.com. To sponsor Mr Thomas's walk go to: wwwjustgiving .com/ whizz-kidz-pilgrim.