Hitchhiking vicar raises £5,900 for mental health charity

The Vicar of Redbourn, Revd Will Gibbs has successfully hitchhiked across the country to 26 destinations, each beginning with a consecutive letter of the alphabet, in a fundraising challenge for the St Mary’s Charity of the Year for 2019, Youth Talk St Albans.

Will’s three-day challenge began on Friday 12th July when he set off from Redbourn at 9.00am, picking up his first lift to Apsley.  By nightfall he had made it to Jordans, and was offered a bed for the night by his final lift of the day, who then took him to Knotting Green the following morning to continue the journey.  By Saturday evening he had found his way to W (Wimborne St Giles, Dorset), leaving just X (an X-ray Department!), Y (Yeovil) and Z (Zeals) to complete on Sunday morning before making it back to Redbourn by 3.30pm.

Will says “I’m tired but delighted to have competed this amazing challenge. It has been a lot of fun and I’ve met some fascinating people, some of whom went well out of their way to get me to places. Thank you to everyone who has cheered me on and has given so generously for such a great cause”.

Youth Talk are a local charity providing free and confidential counselling and support for  young people aged 13 to 25 facing anxiety, grief, low confidence and other mental health issues.  Will’s challenge has raised £5,900 in sponsorship so far, and St Mary’s Church, Redbourn are hoping to raise over £10,000 for their charity of the year in 2019 through fundraising initiatives including a ‘Beer and Carols’ event at the local pub, a vintage tea party, bluebell woods walk and picnic, pancake party, and a series of photography workshops at the church.

Click here to visit Will’s sponsorship page