Kildare colleagues raise funds for Camphill residents' holiday

TWO colleague working at the Bridge Camphill Community in Kilcullen are using their Camino Santiago holiday in May to raise funds so that residents in the community can be brought on a later holiday of their dreams. 

While Lucy Coade and Sandra Quigley are training for their own 106km trek in Northern Spain, they'll be keeping local supporters abreast of their efforts on the Camphill social media.

"Walking on the Camino had always been on our minds," says Lucy, who lives in Athy. 

"We had decided to do it this year, and when we had it organised we thought it would be nice if we could use it to help bring some of our 16 residents on a holiday, probably in September." 

So, after getting the nod for the idea from the national Camphill organisation, she and Sandra have turned their walk into a sponsored one, as well as organising a series of fundraising functions for the cause.

Their walk will be done over five days, and Sandra admits that she's going to have to up her training game. 

In addition to building up pace along the new distributor road and associated walkways in Athy, she's borrowing a treadmill from Sandra. 

"It's not always easy for me to get out at night, so I'll do some my training walks in my own house."

Sandra, from Blessington originally but now living in Kill, probably has a slight edge on her friend, by walking her dog 'about a million times a day' according to Lucy.

With a kickoff morning fundraiser on Pancake Tuesday under their belt, the pair are being supported by colleagues who will organise a Family Fun Day at the Bridge Community in April and a Table Quiz in May in one of the local pubs. 

There's also an iDonate page at tinyurl.com/ejesz722. 

"It would be really great if we got the people of the town behind us," said Sandra.

Shouldn't be too difficult, as there is a long tradition of very close bonds between the townspeople and Bridge Camphill ever since it was established in Kilcullen more than three decades ago.