On Wednesday June 27th 2018, almost two hundred and fifty pupils from Year 7 completed a circuit of Salesian School Guildford Road. This event, organised by the Chaplain and supported by the Head of Year 7, involved Year 7 pupils completing a 0.48km walk around the Guildford Road site in Tutor Groups with their Tutors.

In glorious warm sunshine, pupils completed this challenge in under fifteen minutes. Pupils carried their school bags with them to help remind them that refugees must carry their life's belongings with them as they flee their homes.
The aim of this event is to respond to the call of Pope Francis in showing solidarity with refugees fleeing persecution, war, famine, drought and conflict. The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) is the official aid and development agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and has launched several campaigns over the past couple of years; 'Share the Journey' is the latest campaign that has been promoted amongst schools and parishes.

Pupils from schools have teamed up with various parishes to walk, not only in solidarity with refugees, but also to raise awareness. The goal of schools and parishes is for everyone involved to walk the equivalent of 24,900km which is the circumference of the world.
I am delighted to say that Year 7 pupils, together with their Tutors, completed the equivalent of 119.52km! This number will be sent to CAFOD to add to their overall total. This is a great achievement for all concerned.

Particular thanks go to the following for their support and co-operation: Mr. P Fullbrook, Head of Year 7 for helping to supervise the walk; Year 7 Tutors and staff who accompanied their Tutees; the SCIIT Trainees for volunteering to oversee the first checkpoint; Niamh Forbes and Calogera Scannella in Year 10 for volunteering to act as Stewards; Robert Kisiel in Year 7 for holding the school banner; Mr G Thomas for acting as our official School Event Photographer; Br. M Papierz SDB for his support throughout the morning and of course the Year 7 participants without whom this event would not have been possible.