Brentwood youth walk 10 bridges for WYD 2008

THE mAJORITY of the 75 young people from Brentwood diocese who are planning to travel to Sydney for World Youth Day 2008 have taken part in a sponsored walk across 10 London bridges.
The walk was organised as part of the young people’s efforts to raise the £1,750 required per person to pay for air fares, insurance, accommodation and registration for World Youth Day in July 2008, as well as to help them to bond together as a group.
Starting at Tower Bridge, the group crossed the river at each bridge, finishing at Chelsea Bridge.
The young people were overwhelmed by the generosity of the support that they received. Will, 16, from Chelmsford, said: “One elderly lady from my parish came out of church, smiled at me, gave me £10 and said: ‘You are the future.’ It was really touching.” Gareth, Laura and Yvette, from Kelvedon, said: “We can’t believe how generous people have been. We are in a tiny parish and they have given us over £1,000 for this walk.” Fr Dominic Howarth, youth chaplain and director of the Brentwood Catholic youth service, has faith in the benefits of World Youth Day. “Sixty young people from Brentwood diocese went to the last World Youth Day, in Cologne in 2005,” he said. “Their faith was transformed by the radiance, vitality and energy of so many young people coming together.” If you can offer any support to the group, including corporate sponsorship, please e-mail Fr Howarth at [email protected] or call him on 01268 696 610.