St Francis Leprosy Guild is delighted to announce that Phil McCarthy, founder of Pilgrim Ways, is currently walking the Via di Francesco to mark the 800th anniversary of St Francis’ death and raise funds for SFLG.

Founder of Pilgrim Ways, Phil McCarthy

Phil set off from Florence on 27th April and hopes to reach Rome by 30th May, covering a grand total of 322 miles.

Explaining why he is raising funds, Phil said:

“As a medical student in India I saw the devastating consequences of this disease. I am therefore walking the Way of St Francis to raise funds for St Francis Leprosy Guild.”

People with leprosy held a special place in St Francis of Assisi’s heart, and he is a patron saint of those who suffer from it. After an encounter with a man with leprosy near Assisi, he left his family to live in radical poverty and care for those on the margins, especially people affected by leprosy.

If you wish to support Phil’s fundraiser, click the link here<<

What does my money go towards?

St Francis Leprosy Guild supports over thirty leprosy centres and projects across the world, both caring for those affected by the disease and working towards a leprosy-free world – funding research projects, hospitals, rehabilitation centres and capital equipment. Through their TRACE strategy they focus on early diagnosis, which means early treatment, prevention of lifelong disability and prevention of transmission.

“Today I can take my first step for more than ten years because you thought that someone like me deserved to walk beside you.”

An example of what your donations could go towards is the crucial work of the Ipiranga Committee Association, led by

The Ipiranga Committee’s Hospital Boat

Dr Antonia Lopez Gonzalez (Dr Tony). The association operates in Lábrea, Brazil and her team – supported by SFLG – reaches people that otherwise could not be found by navigating along the Amazon River in a hospital boat. They are able to diagnose and treat thousands of cases of leprosy each year.

Dr Tony’s team evaluates suspected cases of leprosy, raises awareness, and trains care assistants in every village they visit. They also provide physiotherapy, orthopaedic support, shoes, education campaigns, and school fees.

 

Dr Tony, President of the Ipiranga Committee Association

Dr Tony said:

“We live in intense and complicated times, but we work with passion and determination. Only last year, we celebrated 30 years since we started our mission in this part of the Amazon. We can do it thanks to our friends like St Francis Leprosy Guild”

 

 

 

To find out more about Dr Tony’s work, watch the video below