TOUR DE HALLAM DAY 5 - WE DID IT!

June 6th 2025 - Feeling tired, needing a brake but wheelie happy to have met you all

It is true that going out on to the street implies the risk of accidents happening, as they would to any ordinary man or woman. But if the church stays wrapped up in itself, it will age. And if I had to choose between a wounded church that goes out on to the streets and a sick, withdrawn church, I would definitely choose the first one. Pope Francis

I am unashamedly going to go for the sympathy factor during this last account and if it prompts just one person to make a donation or just give another £1, then I will feel that the approach wasn’t too bad.

When Pope Francis talked about the risk of accidents happening on the streets, I am sure he was unaware of the tram tracks in Hillsborough.

I was being extra careful, knowing they could be a real problem but before I knew it, my wheel got stuck in track and I was heading towards the road. A lovely lady and another gentleman came straight to my rescue and helped me up. Luckily all the cars stopped quickly. The man sensibly said, “you’re not going anywhere for five minutes so that you know you are OK” and all I could say was, “but …I need to get to the next church.” The lady was wonderful so if she ever reads this - a real thank you.

The minibus had gone on to Carmel Care so I rang them and said I’d meet them at Sacred Heart (the next stop). I had to walk because the handlebars were pointing in a different direction from the front wheel but as soon as we were welcomed by the children from the school, the pain disappeared. Keith and Jeff (my husband who had accompanied us on the last day - unaware when he agreed that he had to dress up as a bee!) straightened out the bike and I was able to cycle up the ridiculously steep hill to St Vincent’s Church in Crookes. The welcome made it worthwhile and yet again we were reminded of the sense of community and a church that is most certainly not wrapped up in itself.

It was then on to St Vincent’s Hub and St Marie’s Cathedral where we completed the journey and were so pleased to be met with an amazing welcome and presented with a lovely candle.

The accident fades in to nothing when I look back at the pictures of today and the kind people we met at each church (and the rest of the week). After a bath, I can’t deny that there are lots of aches and pains (and bruises and grazes - you see I said I’d go for the sympathy!) but I feel we achieved what we set out to do.

I wanted to raise awareness of St Wilfrid’s Centre and unite every church in the Diocese in the understanding of the responsibility we all have for those most in need. If I’ve given a voice to the voiceless, then I’ve achieved what I set out to do five years ago when I became Director of St Wilfrid’s Centre. But it is more than that, as out there there are lots of individuals within the Diocese who are demonstrating Christian values in what my Mum would describe as practical Christianity. To me that’s what Christ did and I can’t think of a better role model.

We have achieved it! - 53 churches and about 250 miles but as Albert Einstein said,
“Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value.”

Values are what matters to me; success is for the clients who we help. Please do keep looking at our website and thinking about what we do so that the Tour de Hallam lasts far longer than a week.. We need your help in the future in the same way that we have been shown it this week.

I can’t end without saying a massive thank you to Bev who has put a huge amount of work in to make this possible. And of course to Keith for his driving and everyone at the Centre (clients, staff and volunteers who have cycled along to match the miles and supported us). It was important that Jeff was with me today, Each day when I’ve got home, I’ve climbed (or should I say struggled) in to the bath and he has been there presenting me with a glass of Prosecco. Each time, I said, ‘That’s why I married you” but given we have only been married three years, I know I could never find a more caring, loving man. We all need people like that in our lives, so like bees let’s work together to make sure we build a sense of community and work together for those who need us most.

You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. John Bunyan