Walk out of the darkness in support of the shelter

Sunday 14 April 2019

Islanders are being invited to ‘Walk Into Light’ on 28 April to support men’s homeless charity, Sanctuary Trust.

The Trust launched the ‘candle-lit’ walk last year with the aim of raising awareness of its work providing support and accommodation for men who have hit a crisis and have few places left to turn.

Co-Founder and Sanctuary Trustee, Sean Power, came up with the idea following the success of the Pieta House Darkness into Light Walk which started in Dublin in 2008 and is now a worldwide phenomenon, with walkers from New Zealand to San Francisco supporting the suicide crisis charity every year.

This year’s walk, which is sponsored by Jersey Electricity, will take place on Sunday 28 April. It will start from Corbière, in the darkness, at 04:30 and follow the five-mile Railway Walk route all the way to St. Brélade's Parish Hall to arrive at sunrise just after 06:00.

General Manager at Sanctuary Trust, Brett Cutts, said that walkers at last year’s event were joined by an owl and a few bats along the route before reaching St. Aubin just as the birds began their morning chorus at daybreak.

Pictured: Deputy Kristina Moore, trustee; Brett Cutts, Sanctuary Trust General Manager and Lynn Schofield, Communications Manager at Jersey Electricity.

“We are very grateful to again have the support of Jersey Electricity and The Idea Works," he said. "It really is a great community event that can be taken at a leisurely pace with a welcome free hot drink and bacon roll from St. Aubin’s Café at the finish line.

"Free transport is also provided by Liberty Bus, who take walkers back to the start to pick up their cars.”

Over 100 people took part last year walk raising over £6,000 for the charity,  which provides shelter and support for men facing homelessness, to help them get their lives back on track, whilst rebuilding their confidence and self-esteem.

 Mr Cuts said Sanctuary Trust is hoping to break this target as every penny raised goes "a long way towards helping our residents get back on their feet and move towards a better future.”

Pictured: The walk will start at 04:30 from Corbiére.

Chris Ambler, Chief Executive of Jersey Electricity commented: “We are delighted to again support this event. Sanctuary Trust has helped over 200 men, including 21 former service men, rebuild their lives. 

"The walk signifies the difficult path these men make from the darkness and despair of homelessness back into the light of normal lives. Sanctuary Trust is helping not only Sanctuary residents themselves but the community as a whole.”