MEMBERS of seven different churches walked almost seven miles from Nailsworth to Tetbury for Christian Aid.

Twenty-five walkers, aged five to 81, walked almost seven miles on Saturday, May 21, defying an ominous forecast of heavy rain.

They raised over £1,000 to tackle poverty.

The day began with a coffee morning at Christ Church, Nailsworth and closed with a cream tea at Christ Church, Tetbury.

The walk, organised by Stuart Radford, minister at Christ Church, Tetbury, marked the end of Christian Aid Week. 

The week this year ran from May 15 to 21 and reminded people to 'love every neighbour'.

Stuart, also a retired Methodist minister and a member of Christ Church, Nailsworth, said he wanted to bring together the two communities in their common desire to address poverty.

He said: “It was amazing to have such strong support from churches right across the area – despite the forecast.

“As it was, the rain stayed away, apart from a drop or two, and everyone was in great spirits fuelled by the coffee and cake at Nailsworth and the prospect of tea and scones at Tetbury.

“The call to ‘love every neighbour’ is at the heart of our identity as Christians and the walk was a way to step out in solidarity with one another and the world’s poor.

“We are thrilled by the amount we have raised and would like to thank everyone who supported the day – this money will change lives.”

Across the area, Christian Aid Week was celebrated in a range of ways from house to house collections, special services and events.

Funds raised during Christian Aid Week are used for crisis relief as well as long-term development projects.

Christian Aid will release an £25,000 of emergency funds for families badly affected by Cyclone Roanu, which hit Bangladesh on Saturday and forced 500,000 people to flee their homes.