The Pilgrimage – a gentle nudge!

Now’s the time to get involved with The Pilgrimage and raise funds for our Hummingbirds

With early spring flowers blossoming and evenings getting lighter, we listened to our family members, our staff, and our supporters, all of whom said they were looking forward to getting moving again after the long winter nights. So, in the spring edition of our magazine, we launched our spring/summer fundraiser asking you to “step out on The Pilgrimage and step up support for dementia”. Will you join us?

This fantastic fundraising opportunity directly supports the work of our team of Hummingbirds who are an integral part of The Way We Care, in particular the way we care for people living with dementia. Hummingbirds are employed with the sole purpose of spending time and connecting with people affected by dementia, providing a range of emotional, spiritual, and practical support.

Our target is to raise £10,000 this year to further develop this aspect of our work, and we have had a delightful response to date with over £4,000 already expected. So, whether you want to walk, run, swim, cycle or do something else, we hope that you will join our journey.

Supporter Stories

Three early stories to share with you include Stephen and Susan’s “Pushbike Pilgrimage”, Alexandra’s “Marathon Adventure” and Sid’s “Cycling Challenge”.

Why a pilgrimage?

You may be wondering why we have chosen a pilgrimage to raise funds for our Hummingbird team; the answer is simple……of all the lifestyle changes that have been studied, taking regular physical exercise appears to be one of the best things we can do to reduce our risk of getting dementia.

Several prospective studies, (which follow the health and behaviour of a group of people over time), have looked at middle-aged people and the effects of physical exercise on their thinking and memory in later life. Combining the results of 11 studies shows that regular exercise can significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia by about 30%. For Alzheimer's disease specifically, the risk was reduced by 45%.

If you decide to take part in The Pilgrimage, whatever activity you choose, you might like to build some time into your journey for personal reflection and prayer. Here are four areas that you might like to consider during your activity.

1. What do you carry that is weighing you down?

As you’ve prepared for your pilgrimage, you’ve probably thought about taking only the things you really need. In life, are you carrying more than you need? Is there anything that you could strip away to make your journey easier?

1. How is your journey with God?

God has promised us that He will never leave us – we know that He is journeying with us. Is there anything stopping you from receiving God’s full companionship in your journey with Him?

1. Who are you journeying with?

On your pilgrimage, you may cross paths with many people. Who is journeying with you through life? How are you showing them that you are grateful for their support on your life’s pilgrimage?

1. Where are you going?

The thing that makes a pilgrimage special is that it has a destination, a finishing point. Life is both about the journey that we make day by day, and the final destination. Where are you going?

With all of this in mind, please join us to…..

• Step out to raise vital funds for our Hummingbird team
• Step out for a healthy you
• Step out and strengthen your relationship with the Lord

Thank you!

To take part, click here to download your guide.