Derry professors complete charity walk to Belfast

Two professors from the University of Ulster are taking a well-earned break over Christmas after completing a gruelling 75 mile fund raising walk from Derry to Belfast.

Professors Siobhan O’Neill and Paddy Gray (pictured) departed from the Guildhall in Derry and arrived in Belfast after battling through blisters and blustery conditions on the Glenshane Pass.

The Hike4HopeNI was organised to raise funds for those affected by mental health issues, homelessness and suicide, with the walk also aiming to raise awareness of those affected by these issues in the run up to Christmas.

Both the professors were joined along the route by a number of people, including Tony Ruddy of Ark Housing, and Oonagh Todd, of Choice Housing.

A tired – but happy – Professor Gray said while their trek was ‘tough going’, it had been well wort it.

“I’m glad that we can now look back and say we did it, but my feet are in a pretty bad state and I can hardly,” he joked.

“I had spoken to Siobhan about this some time ago, the idea of doing something in the run-up to Christmas, just to highlight the issues of suicide, homelessness and suicide.

“Thank God the weather held out for the most part, the Glenshane was a bit daunting, but we had great help from a lot of people, including our driver Dr Edel Ennis, who was there with our supplies.

“We also had great support from people who came out and joined the walk with us, we had great banter, which kept us going.” Professor Gray added many of the people they met on the journey opened up about their own stories to them after learning what the walk was about.

“The people in the towns and villages we passed through were very welcoming and very good to us, the staff of the Ponderosa also gave us lunch,” he said.

“When people found out why we were doing the walk they would tell us of their own personal experiences, so that was very emotional, hearing those stories.”