A MALVERN man is set to brave a 1000km, month-long trek across Spain to raise vital cash for doctors and medical aid in Palestine.
Tom Cole will start his journey in Seville on Monday, April 29 and will be walking the equivalent of a marathon every day for a month to reach Santiago de Compostela in the north of Spain.
His journey, following a variation of the ancient Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, covers most of the length of Spain and part of northern Portugal.
He will be raising funds for the UK-based charity Medical Aid for Palestinians.
The charity provides frontline healthcare in Gaza during the ongoing conflict.
So far Tom has raised £160 of his £500 target through his JustGiving page.
The 33-year-old has been training on the Malvern Hills for around six months.
Tom said: “Like many people, I’ve been deeply affected by the images of civilian suffering coming out of Palestine over the last few months and want to do whatever I can to help.
“The doctors and nurses working with Medical Aid for Palestinians do incredible work in an unbelievably high-risk environment, literally putting their own lives on the line to provide much-needed emergency healthcare to the men, women and children suffering in Gaza and beyond.
“Nothing can fully prepare you for walking this kind of distance.
“This is going to be a very tough challenge for me, walking 25miles or more a day in 30-something-degree heat, but knowing that any money I raise is going to such an important and urgent cause will keep me going.”
Tom will also be documenting his journey on Instagram.
Visit www.instagram.com/pilgrimageforpalestine/ to follow Tom’s journey and justgiving.com/page/pilgrimage-for-palestine to donate.
