TWELVE walkers are setting out on a 135-mile trek to celebrate 25 years of an aid agency’s North-East branch.

The group, aged 28 to over 70, will undertake the Cafod Big Walk from Durham to Holy Island over nine days starting on Friday, July 1, to celebrate a quarter of a century of the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (Cafod) in the region.

Churchgoers and school children will join them for parts of the route along the way.

They will also meet Cafod partners from Brazil and, on arrival at the coast, more than 400 Cafod supporters from across the North for the final leg of the journey.

Seamus Cunningham, Roman Catholic Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, will then celebrate Mass on Holy Island.

Peter Donaghy, who is part of the group, said: "For me, linking Durham and Holy Island will evoke memories of the local saints Aidan, Cuthbert and Bede; but it will also be a real challenge, with an average of 15 miles a day.

"I realise that some people have to cover that on a daily basis just to get water or go to school. It will be tough but thoughts like that will encourage us."

To sponsor the walkers, visit justgiving.com/cafodbigwalk For more information, call 0191-3844847.