A CATHOLIC priest from Portishead is putting on his walking boots for a sponsored walk around the French pilgrimage site of Lourdes. Father Gerry Walsh from St Joseph's Church will be joined by Mary Wright, a parishioner from St Bonaventure's in Bristol.

A CATHOLIC priest from Portishead is putting on his walking boots for a sponsored walk around the French pilgrimage site of Lourdes.Father Gerry Walsh from St Joseph's Church will be joined by Mary Wright, a parishioner from St Bonaventure's in Bristol.The walk is in aid of HCPT - The Pilgrimage Trust which is a Catholic charity which takes children with special needs on pilgrimage holidays to Lourdes.The pilgrims are currently training for the walk which will take place over two days at the end of October and have been regularly putting their best foot forward along the Avon Walk Way under the Clifton Suspension Bridge.Father Gerry and Mary will be joined by HCPT's president Right Reverend John Rawstohorne, Bishop of Hallam and 33 other walkers. Father Gerry said: "It costs about £550 to take a child to Lourdes. The children we take have a splendid activity packed seven day holiday."They experience the spiritual serenity of the shrine, the scenic beauty of the Pyrenees and the companionship of their family like group."Meanwhile their family back home also has some respite from looking after their child. Mary and I find our voluntary work in Lourdes with HCPT very rewarding if tiring."Like many helpers we are looking forward to the next pilgrimage with the children in 2007."To sponsor Mary or Father Gerry please visit www.justgiving.com/MaryWright and www.justgiving.com/GerryWalsh