Two men from Stormont in East Belfast recently undertook a sponsored walk of 150 miles, and raised £11,000 for Jeel al-Amal and the Lazarus Home.

The Revd David Humphries, Rector of Stormont, is a regular tour leader to the Holy Land, and in recent years has developed a good working relationship with McCabe Pilgrimages. His good friend David Davies accompanied him on this year’s pilgrimage and visited the orphanages for the first time. Moved by what they experienced, the two Davids decided to embark on the walk, which they named the “Jeel 150”, and they caught the interest and imagination of their fellow parishioners.

The Jeel 150 took them through the County Down countryside, following the famous “Ulster Way”. Both Davids are faithful environmentalists with a strong interest in nature, so the walk was an absolute delight to both of them, as they passed along the shore of Strangford Lough, one of the top conservation sites in Europe, and on into the heart of Down – land frequented in the 5th century by St Patrick and many other Irish saints.

The lads hope to re-visit the orphanages in Bethany on another pilgrimage in 2008.

Thu Nov 29, 2007