the Door

THE director of a charity that aims to help people with learning disabilities has walked 1,000 miles in 10 weeks. Tony Phelps-Jones, director of Reading based Ministry Prospects, aimed to raise £100,000 during the walk, which has taken him from Lands End to John O' Groats and from Skegness to Belfast.

During the walk he wore a sign stating ‘I’m walking 1,000 miles this summer, ask me why’ on his rucksack and has been joined by more than 1,000 people with learning disabilities, all of them walking at least one mile with him. Ths week Tony will be in the diocese, to complete his challenge.

He says: ‘People with learning disabilities are often marginalised in our society today. I want to raise awareness of their needs. I want to help people with learning disabilities in society, in our communities, in our churches. I want them to be valued for who they are.’
During the walk Tony has enjoyed plenty of chance conversationswhich have revealed just how much pain is felt by the relations of people with learning disabilities, at their treatment not only by society, but also by the church.

He says: ‘I hope to raise £100,000 to provide resources to enable people with learning disabilities to be included in their communities and churches and become a visible part of society.’
 

Tony’s walk will end on Tuesday, October 6 with a celebration at St Andrew’s Church, Oxford. He will then set off from Iffley to walk along the Thames the next day, ending with a celebration at Greyfriars Church, led by people with learning disabilities. All are welcome to walk the last mile with Tony, setting off from the Fistherman’s Cottage Pub at 4.30pm.
Ministry Prospects is a voluntary Chrisian organisation that supports people with learning disabilities so that they can develop a range of skills and live as independently as possible.

Visit www.prospects.org.uk/walkwithme to read Tony's blog or to sponsor him.