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Walkers complete epic trek for
seafarers
197 mile coast to coast trek raising money for seafarers' charity
Two intrepid walkers have completed the gruelling 197-mile
Coast-to-Coast Walk from St Bee’s in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay in
Yorkshire, raising awareness of the conditions faced by merchant
seafarers and also money for the work of the Apostleship of the Sea.
Veronica and Eddie Yarwood began their trek on Sunday 29th April, and
completed the challenge just 16 days later after symbolically linking
the Irish Sea with the North Sea. The couple also found the time to
record their experiences in a ‘blog’ hosted on the website of the
diocese of Hexham & Newcastle (
http://coasttocoast.rcdhn.org.uk ), which received 6,000 unique
visits during the walk. Thanks to this publicity, the money raised in
sponsorship by the pair to help seafarers has now passed the £1,000
mark.
Both Veronica and Eddie are experienced walkers who have completed
many well known routes around Britain, but attempting the
Coast-to-Coast Walk was their most ambitious project to date.
Veronica, a former probation officer, explained why she chose to
support AOS. ‘I have always been interested in the sea, and this was
heightened following a visit to Teesport some years ago,’ she said.
‘The tour really made an impression on me; we went on board a large
roll-on roll-off ferry and met seafarers working on board. They were
very pleased to see us and made us very welcome. It was great to talk
to them about their families back home.
‘The Apostleship of the Sea does a great job in caring for seafarers,
many of whom are Catholic, so we decided that it is this organisation
which should benefit from any sponsorship monies raised.’
When the couple arrived at Robin Hood’s Bay at the end of their walk,
they were given an enthusiastic welcome by local AOS supporters,
including the AOS regional coordinator and chaplain to Teesport, Tony
McAvoy.
Veronica observed, ‘What a reception we received – it was
overwhelming. Thanks to Tony McAvoy and his wonderful team and their
supporters, we were so elated in spite of the inclement weather which
did little to dampen our spirits.’
Veronica continued, ‘We have so much to savour and enjoy, and while we
are so delighted we have achieved our goal, we are sad that it is all
coming to an end. We have had a wonderful experience, met some
fascinating people, been in some great B&B’s and viewed some
awe-inspiring scenery.’
Paying tribute to all those who supported them and worked to make the
walk a success, Veronica said, ‘We are working as a team, each with
our individual contribution to make to seafarers whom we may never
meet but whose own role in providing our daily “bread”, in whatever
form, deserves to be highlighted. Hopefully the walk is another way of
continuing to raise the flag.’
The Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) is the official maritime welfare
agency of the Catholic Church in Great Britain and an independent
charity wholly reliant on voluntary contributions to sustain its vital
ministry.
Ninety percent of all world trade is transported by ship, but the
conditions faced by seafarers themselves are largely hidden. Typically
recruited from poorer countries where wages are lower, seafarers work
up to a year at a time away from loved ones and family back home. They
suffer loneliness, dangerous working conditions and even exploitation
as they bring us the goods we need to sustain our standard of living.
AOS deploys chaplains and ship visitors in ports up and down the
country to welcome seafarers to our shores as brothers and sisters,
regardless of their creed or nationality, and to provide for their
pastoral and practical needs. Catholic seafarers are given the
opportunity to receive the sacraments, and all seafarers encounter the
love and light of Christ in their midst.
Working ecumenically with other Christian welfare societies, AOS
provide drop-in centres within ports where seafarers who are able to
leave their ships for a short while can relax, pray and contact loved
ones back home. They can also talk confidentially about any problems
they may be experiencing, away from the tension and noise of their
working environment. In short, they are able to feel human again.
AOS also works collaboratively with other industry bodies and the
government to speak up for the rights of seafarers and to ensure that
their welfare is central to maritime policy.
The AOS website is at
http://www.apostleshipofthesea.org.uk
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