Energetic fundraisers from St Mary’s Church, Battersea, are gearing up for a major charity appeal to support vulnerable communities around the world.
Two teams of four will be kayaking up The Thames in a bid to raise £2,000 as part of Christian Aid Week 2025.
Vicar at St Mary’s, The Venerable Stephen Taylor, who is taking part, explained: “Every year, during this appeal, people across Britain and Ireland have seven days to make a difference and support their global neighbours, in a celebration of hope for a fairer world.
“This year, we have eight members of St Mary’s who will be kayaking from Greenwich to Battersea, on the two Sundays of Christian Aid Week, May 11 and May 18. The journey is a good three hours and we’ll pass many of London’s most iconic landmarks including the Cutty Sark and the London Eye.
“Last year we walked round St Mary’s parish boundary and raised £1,700 for Christian Aid. This year we have upped the target to £2,000 and huge thanks to David Britten, Ed Standing, Francis Britten, Amy Hammond, Katy Silverman, Phoebe Studdert-Kennedy, and Tim Walker who will be accompanying me in this endeavour.
“We are also holding special services and a parish lunch to fundraise as part of Christian Aid Week. It so important to know that through Christian Aid we can make a difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people on the planet.”
Money raised during Christian Aid Week will help the organisation’s partners empower vulnerable communities to find practical and sustainable ways out of poverty.
This year’s appeal – from May 11-17 – is focussing on work in Guatemala, in Central America, where climate change is causing the seasons to intensify and shift erratically. As a result, farming communities have to battle severe floods and, more recently, ferocious heatwaves. Water sources are drying up and vital crops are failing, plunging farming families into hunger and poverty.
Despite the challenges families are facing, the unstoppable power of hope drives people to look for ways to push back.
Christian Aid – which is marking its 80th anniversary this year – has been working with organisations like, Coordinación de ONG y Cooperativas, to offer training and tools so farmers can diversify and grow more resilient crops, build water recycling systems, and create organic fertiliser.
To support the team, please visit St Mary’s Battersea Kayak and Collection – Christian Aid Fundraise and to find out more about projects like these and how to get involved, go to www.christianaid.org.uk.
