Throughout 2019, BCM (Belfast Central Mission) is celebrating 130 years of community engagement, support and working with people all over Northern Ireland to improve their lives.

Reverend David Campton, BCM’s Superintendent, has taken on the mission to mark this significant anniversary and raise vital funds for Copelands, the organisation’s flagship project, by walking from the north shore of Belfast Lough to the eastern shores of County Down.

His symbolic walk will begin from the site of a former BCM residential project at Castlerocklands in Carrickfergus, and finish at the new Copelands site outside Millisle, where the organisation is in the process of building a £5 million purpose-built facility that will provide practice-leading residential, nursing and dementia care.

This will be carried out over the course of three days and David will use the opportunity to connect with and visit local congregations and communities, while also calling in to the various BCM Projects along the route.

David said;

“BCM has been an integral part of communities across Northern Ireland for 130 years and we want to cement that by visiting as many of them as possible. We are reaching out to our neighbours, service users, friends, families and staff alike to try and encourage and motivate me to keep my legs moving as far as Millisle.

“Our Copelands project on the Co. Down coast is undeniably the largest single project BCM has undertaken during our 130 years and it is a massive feat with an understandably representative budget – which we need to invariably raise!

“I hope to raise awareness of both BCM as an organisation that helps and supports family members and neighbours of so many around the province, while also raising awareness and funds for our flagship Copelands project and I would welcome any and all support and company along the way.”

David will begin his walk from Carrickfergus Castle carpark at 10:00am on Thursday, 22^nd August 2019 and walk more than 12 miles a day with overnight stops at BCM headquarters in Belfast city centre and its project in Newtownards.

The final approach along the eastern shore of the County Down coast will include a stop off at the inaugural Copelands Summer Fete on Saturday, August 24^th, which will be underway at Killard House School in Donaghadee. It is hoped that this vibrant community event will become an annual occurrence and move to be held at the Copelands site upon completion in 2020.

All funds raised will go towards the completion and fit-out of Copelands; Dementia, Nursing and Residential Care, and David can be sponsored via his JustGiving page. For more information on this project visit www.copelands.org.uk.