Octogenarian takes on 80k in May

Rev Christie is celebrating his 80^th birthday alongside international development agency Christian Aid, and has decided to undertake an 80k in May challenge for Christian Aid Week 2025.

In solidarity with millions of people who have to walk long distances for clean water or to sell their produce, he plans to cycle 80K around the eight churches of the Wolverhampton and Smestow Brook Group of the United Reformed Church, in the West Midlands Synod.

Rev Christie explained: “Last year I tackled a sponsored cycle ride of 50km. It was titled ‘Peter's Prayer Ride’, and I stopped on the threshold of each church to share a time of prayer for its mission and outreach. Members and friends contributed more than £1,000 for Christian Aid.

“This year, from Tuesday, May 13, I am planning to cycle 80km around the eight Churches of the Wolverhampton and Smestow Brook Group of the United Reformed Church West Midlands Synod, with diversions into Staffordshire and Shropshire.”

Rev Christie said it seemed the perfect time to undertake this challenge.

“I was born on Thanksgiving Sunday after VE day so I’ll be 80 during Christian Aid Week,” he explained. “My wife, Christine, and I have supported Christian Aid since we married in 1969; we like how Christian Aid works with people in need around the world of all faiths and none.”

Money raised during Christian Aid Week will help the organisation’s partners empower vulnerable communities to find practical and sustainable ways out of poverty.

This year’s appeal - from May 11-17 - is focussing on work in Guatemala, in Central America, where climate change is causing the seasons to intensify and shift erratically. As a result, farming communities have to battle severe floods and, more recently, ferocious heatwaves. Water sources are drying up and vital crops are failing, plunging farming families into hunger and poverty.

Despite the challenges families are facing, the unstoppable power of hope drives people to look for ways to push back.

Christian Aid has been working with organisations like, Coordinación de ONG y Cooperativas, to offer training and tools so farmers can diversify and grow more resilient crops, build water recycling systems using household items, and create organic fertiliser. They are also supported with selling produce locally and campaigning for their rights against land grabs by industrial plantations.

To find out more about projects like these and how to get involved, visit christianaid.org.uk.