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Englishman in epic walk for homeless

Tuesday, 06 October 2009

An Englishman who once slept on the streets of Dublin when he first arrived in the city has embarked on a massive 999 kilometre walk around Ireland in a bid to raise awareness and funds for the homeless. Daniel Granger (30) who is originally from Chester, now lives in Bray and works in Crumlin. However, he spent two nights sleeping on the streets of capital when he first came to Ireland in 2000. Last Thursday (October 1) Daniel set off on his epic trip from Bray with the aim of raising as much money as possible for Focus Ireland. David explained that he had always wanted to fundraise for the charity after his own brief experience of sleeping rough enabled him to empathise with the plight of the homeless. “I spent two nights out on the street myself when I first came to Ireland in 2000,” he recalled. “It was a long time ago but I'll always remember how tough it was. To this day I speak with the homeless on the street and if I am out with my friends in town I will try and stop by and chat with some of them. “I really feel that it is a problem that Ireland as a whole can solve if people put their minds to it,” he added. “There are also a lot of stereotypical views of the homeless in Ireland now, especially with the recession.” Daniel, who works in a fruit and vegetable shop in Crumlin, had to save for months to be able to take the two months off to undertake the walk. Journey “The main thing was to make sure I could afford my rent for the next two months so I am not made homeless myself,” he explained. “I had to put a bit of money aside.” The two month long journey will take him from Bray down to Kerry by the Wicklow Way, and the South Leinster, East Munster and Blackwater walking ways, then on to Dursey Island in south west County Cork for the halfway point, and up the west coast as far as Galway. Daniel said that an accident two years ago would limit the distance he walks each day. “I have two pins in my ankles because I was hit by a car about two and half years ago, so I can't really push it to 30 or 40 kilometres a day,” he stated. “Instead, the pace I am going to set myself will be about 20 to 25 kilometres a day with the intention of fundraising and concentrating on the message of the plight of the homeless instead of just doing a power walk to the finish. For my training I have been doing the Bray cliff walk and that is about a 15 kilometre round trip.” The objectives of Focus Ireland include responding to the needs of people on the street and those at risk of becoming homeless through a range of appropriate high quality services. They provide emergency transitional and long-term accommodation and campaign and lobby for the rights of people without a home. Anyone who wants to find out more about Daniel's trip or who wants to donate can log on to 999km.bebo.com or www.focusireland.ie