A MAN with a painful medical condition is preparing for a daily walking challenge to help people struggling with hunger.

Greg Tagney, from Storth, will walk 10km every day for the 40 days of Lent to raise money for families facing hunger.

Starting from March 2 to April 14 2022, the Walk Against Hunger Lent challenge, championed by Catholic Aid charity CAFOD, is calling on people to help tackle global food poverty by doing 5K steps a day.

The 71-year-old aims to raise £1,000 by walking 374kms over 40 days through the woodland and country paths near his village.

Despite developing a medical leg condition that impacts his mobility, the former fell runner is passionate about raising money for those affected by global hunger and says that he plans to challenge himself if he is asking others for sponsorship this Lent.

“Last May I suddenly developed a medical condition (claudication of the left leg) that meant I went from being a fell runner to someone who could only walk about 200m along the road before having to rest for three minutes,” said Mr Tagney.

“I have done a few sponsored events to raise money for charity in the past but now feel that unless I’m actually trying to do something that is really hard for me, then I can’t ask others to donate. 

“To make it a proper challenge I have added the 200km to my target training which was 18 miles(29km)/week. So my target for the six weeks of lent is to walk 374kms which is 62.3km/week.

“CAFOD really keep their overheads to a minimum and maximise the benefit given on the ground where it is needed. They operate always on Christian principles and help people in all the areas of worst deprivation around the world, wherever possible by helping the people to establish sustainable streams of income to ensure their future financial independence.”

CAFOD representative in the Cumbria region, Ciara Hogan, said:

“For 60 years the Catholic community has stood in solidarity with people in poverty, and Greg’s inspirational story demonstrates how we each can do something to bring about change for the better.

“We are incredibly lucky to have such committed and compassionate supporters, who in the face of coronavirus over the last 18 months, have kept us together as a faith community.

“I know that CAFOD supporters will put all their energy into this year’s Lent fundraiser, by challenging those in power to protect the environment, to make changes in our own lifestyles, and to campaign for a fairer global food system.

“On behalf of CAFOD and our partners overseas we thank all who support us.”