Pilgrimage to Lourdes – via jumbulance
02 Jul 2008
A party of ill and disabled people will enjoy some respite when they leave Neath Port Talbot later this month for a pilgrimage to Lourdes.
What is unusual about their journey is that the 24 travellers setting out for France on July 25 are, because of their medical conditions, unable to travel by plane. Instead, they will be crossing the Channel in a specially adapted coach/ambulance known as a ‘jumbulance’.
The vehicle has onboard facilities including a kitchen, bathroom, removable stretcher beds, conventional seating and medical equipment. Along with the passengers—from Neath, Swansea and other parts of the UK—will be two drivers, a doctor and nurse.
The trip is being organised by HHAP_Y, which stands for Holland Holidays and Pilgrimages for Youth, a charity established 14 years ago by Jim Caddick in memory of Birmingham parish priest Father James Holland, who had organised such trips before his untimely death.
Jim and his wife retired to Neath to be nearer their daughter and her husband, Corus worker Giles Payne, and continues to run the charity from the town.
Each holiday requires helpers, some of them medically trained, and one of the aims of HHAP_Y is to encourage young people under the age of 25 to sign up as helpers. The charity funds a minimum of 50% of the cost for each helper, with the young people themselves fundraising the remaining balance.
Corus is sponsoring this summer’s trip with £500 towards the costs. Community Spokesman Keith Farron said: “Many of the disabilities of those travelling are associated with age and infirmity; almost all are wheelchair confined, some have a need for oxygen and almost all need assistance for dressing/bathing—which is what the helpers undertake to provide.
“Corus feels privileged to be able to assist these people to travel to somewhere as special as Lourdes, while also benefitting from the company and camaraderie of being part of an organised group of pleasant friendly people. We would also like to acknowledge the time given up by Corus employees to undertake voluntary activities such as this.”
Jim Caddick, who is Secretary of the charity, said: “We would like to thank Corus on behalf of the young travellers for the contribution it has made towards this July’s trip. Without such support, it would be difficult for us to fund all the helpers needed—and without them, the trips just wouldn’t take place.”
One of the volunteers travelling to Lourdes on the jumbulance as a group leader is Giles Payne, who is also a member of Neath Round Table. Anyone wanting to make a donation to the charity, is interested in volunteering to take part in future trips - or simply wants further information—is asked to contact Giles at giles.payne@corusgroup.com.
