A walk in the country

As you'll know by now, my family and I live in the countryside surrounded by nature and it is something that we are thankful for. I grew up in a similar area surrounded by nature and I do think that it helps to shape you as a person. That fresh air is good for the body and good for the soul.

Around one month ago I took on a challenge to walk for a good friend of mine who happens to be my cousin too.

I've been walking a minimum of 5km a day every day since September 25th to raise funds for my him. He was tragically paralysed in an accident over a year ago, and told he would never walk again,but he wants to walk again. He is getting specialist care from Ken Ware in Australia with the funds raised by my fellow walkers and I. I've personally raised €920 so far and the fund has just over €8,000 which is fantastic.

As a group, we are trying to clock up enough mileage to equal the distance between Ireland and Australia in solidarity with his attempt to walk again. It's an extremely long shot, but the journey itself is giving him great purpose and belief and he is in a really good place now.

Given the miracle that is needed here and the fact that I am spiritual, I have been saying a little prayer 3km into my walk every day as I pass this ancient graveyard.

Old Church

The remains of an old church are still visible in the graveyard and heaven knows how many masses were said here over the centuries.

Grotto

I think regardless of one's beliefs or lack thereof, one can appreciate the symbolism of Mary and her purity. My Mum and Dad are devout Catholics and pray to her every day and they have lived a long and fullfilled life so far.

When searching for a miracle, some prayers to Mary or whoever your own deity is seems sensible, so I said some prayers for my cousin and took some photos of Mary and Bernadette of Lourdes who like my cousin was praying for a miracle.

Do you believe in miracles?

I do.

I have faith. I probably inherited from my parents. My cousin has faith too and as you'll see from the photos below of the work he is currently doing in Australia, so does my cousin who is making great progress in a short period of time. It's quite extraordinary actually.

If you are the praying sort, please remember him in your prayers.

If you are not, please remember him in your thoughts.

The images used throughout are all my own captured on my Samsung Smartphone, except the photos of my cousin which were taken by another cousin

Thanks as always for stopping by everyone.

Peace Out