Ailsa Lloyd is pictured above on this year’s walk in aid of the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child (SPUC) in Wales (she is in the centre between the young women holding posters).
Mrs Lloyd is employed by Barclays Bank, which sponsors her walk each year to a maximum of £750, under their Pound-for-Pound Community Investment Programme.
This year’s walk took place on Sunday June 20, Fathers Day. Walkers attended from all parts of Cardiff, as well Cwmbran, Penarth and Dinas Powys.
Special thanks from the organisers go to the Cardiff Three Churches Youth Group from St Brigid’s, St Paul’s and Christ the King who were expecting to raise in the region of £1,000 for the SPUC Cardiff Branch.
The tradition of the Spuc Walk began in February 1974 when 200 people took part in the “Round the Churches Walk” in Cardiff, visiting 18 local places of worship, including two cathedrals and two synagogues.
An amazing £2,000 was raised, a phenomenal amount of money in 1974.
The SPUC Walk has carried on without interruption for 37 years. On one occasion the walk took place on a soaking wet day over Caerphilly Mountain. That time participants reported, jokingly, that it was more like a pilgrimage.
For the last 25 years or so the event has taken place in the grounds of Bute Park, the large area of parkland that may be reached from from the centre of Cardiff. The park has the River Taff on one side and Sophia Gardens, Pontcanna Fields and Cardiff Castle on the other sides.
The walk runs along part of the so-called Taff Trail, starting at Sophia Gardens. That is where the first SPUC Rally to launch the South Wales SPUC Region took place, in the old Sophia Gardens Pavilion. Two thousand attended.
The SPUC walk is expected to raise between £4,000 and £5,000.
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.