Some 130 supporters of the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development (CAF)D)took to the saddle last weekend for a sponsored bike ride to raise money to support the aid agency’s vital poverty-fighting work around the world.
CAFOD is an official agency of the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales.
Over the weekend, the riders, who were aged between five and 81 years and came from as far afield as Bulgaria and Brazil, cycled up to 19 miles along the River Lee between Ponders End and Broxbourne in Hertfordshire.
CAFOD Westminster raised almost £9,000 for projects in Africa through Pedal Against Poverty in 2007 and hope to match that amount this year.
CAFOD Diocesan Manager for Westminster, Tony Sheen, said: “We are delighted that so many people came together to pedal against poverty.
“We are extremely grateful to all those who support CAFOD by fundraising in their parishes across the diocese. CAFOD’s poverty-fighting work could not continue without their generosity.”
CAFOD volunteer Filomena Pereira, who helped run the event, said: “I want to make a difference in any way I can instead of simply blaming politicians for the problems in the developing world.”