Walking to Rome for Life
An interview with our Pilgrims who completed the Pilgrim’s Progress to Rome in September 2025
Monte Mario was my highlight! It was first time we really got to see Rome and the Vatican – at some points during the pilgrimage I didn’t feel like I was going to make it, so it was that realisation of ‘wow! I made it to Rome! - Rebecca
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In September 2025, four remarkable individuals took on the Pilgrim’s Progress to Rome Trek in aid of Life. A trek that took them across beautiful hills and valleys and through rain-soaked paths and roads before finally making their way to the heart of Rome and to the steps of the Vatican. We sat down with Rebecca, Julia, Nick and Anthony shortly after their return to the UK to hear all about their experience and to glean any wisdom for others interested in taking on a similar challenge.
What started as an interview quickly felt like eavesdropping on a group of good friends – but in the best possible way. The ‘Quattro Amici’ – as their WhatsApp chat is called – spoke with genuine warmth and appreciation for each other and it was clear that they encouraged, looked after and laughed with each other over the week they spent together in Italy.
An Interview on the Way...
EWTN GB interviewed our pilgrims on the last leg of the trek about their experience. Julia and Rebecca shared very openly their own experiences that led them to become supporters of Life.
While pregnant with her son 31 years ago, Julia was offered an abortion due to health concerns for her baby. The ease with which the option was presented and the assumption she would accept an abortion shocked her. Julia refused and while her baby boy lived for just 10 days after birth, she remains deeply grateful for his life and the time they had with him saying, “I am so pleased that he had a life…My love for him was and is the same as for my other children.” It wasn’t until about 4 years after losing her baby boy that Julia found out about Life and she decided that she wanted to “help other women who might need the support and encouragement to give the gift of life to their baby.”
Rebecca’s connection to the cause was rooted in trauma. At 15 she experienced an abortion. A decision she had no say in; “I didn’t want to have an abortion, but I didn’t want to be pregnant – the decision was made for me, and I went along with it”. Over time she came to realise how deeply the experience had affected her and now she is a vocal advocate for Life’s free skilled listening and counselling service.
Speaking about Life’s non-religious and non-directive approach, Rebecca said: “There are so many people affected by abortion, not just directly but indirectly. It’s not just women… We live in a secular society and there is a secular service through Life people can reach out to when they aren’t accessing that through a faith – I think it’s one of the most important things I advocate for – the counselling service.”
Why They Walked
Each pilgrim took on the trek for different reasons; some practical, some meaningful and some deeply personal.
Anthony: It was partly altruistic; wanting to raise funds for Life but also giving them publicity through the blogs etc. It was also partly selfish in that having seen the pilgrimage programs on the BBC it was one of those things on the bucket list, it would be nice to have done a pilgrimage and now I have done so!
Julia: It came about around significant years and anniversaries. It was 10 years since we opened our local Life shop which has unfortunately recently closed so it felt like good idea to do something else for Life after all this time. Secondly, because the trek was to Rome and it is the Jubilee Year and the third, a selfish one, it was my 70th birthday so I wanted to mark it by doing something.
Nick: I am a member of the clergy and there is something every week, a commendable cause, and usually more than one. This one hit me in the face; I dealt with it and did it. It’s beneficial to me in the sense that I know more about Life and I will speak well of it – it will be a resource in the sense that if a woman comes with these kinds of issues, I will now be able to direct them to Life.
Rebecca: Having previously been through an abortion – a choice that I didn’t make – I wanted to take on the trek. From a personal perspective the trek helped me to overcome challenges that were keeping me overweight. I used to overeat, and I was scared to go out walking in case I encountered my abuser. I lost just over two stone for the challenge. The training and the trek made me address issues I haven’t looked at in my previous counselling.
Highlights
Reaching Monte Mario on the 5th day of the trek and being in Rome for the Jubilee Year was a highlight for all.
Rebecca: Monte Mario! It was first time we really got to see Rome and the Vatican – at some points during the pilgrimage I didn’t feel like I was going to make it, so it was that realisation of ‘wow! I made it to Rome!
Julia: The whole thing was lovely – getting to Rome was the highlight! It wasn’t as challenging as I thought, but it wasn’t an easy walk. All day, every day the hymn ‘Walk With Me Oh My Lord’ kept coming to me. On coming back, I thought He really was with me! It just flowed and I didn’t get any blisters (sorry Rebecca!).
Nick: A real highlight was meeting Dutch pilgrims who’d lost most of their luggage and were sharing clothes and walking with bamboo sticks. Their good humour put our own discomforts into perspective. I even had a ‘plan B’ to get a bus to Rome if needed, while they just coped. They inspired me. Walking through the Holy Door in the Jubilee Year and being asked to bless the group afterwards was also a highlight – an affirmation of my ministry.
Challenges
Despite the stunning scenery, the trek wasn’t without its hurdles. Heavy rain turned paths into streams, boots were constantly wet, and blisters became a daily battle especially for Rebecca, who vowed she’d return “with better socks and more plasters next time.” Julia struggled initially with an uncomfortable rucksack, due to carrying more water bottles than needed. After a couple of days she realised this discomfort was unnecessary and a metaphor for her own life! Julia took a different approach by repacking, reordering and shedding the unnecessary. Anthony found the river valleys tougher than expected, while Nick quietly kept to the back of the group each day to make sure no one was left behind or felt the pressure of being ‘last’. Yet even with the weather, sore feet, and gear mishaps, the group stayed upbeat, supported each other, and kept moving.
Top Tips from the Pilgrims
- Train properly – even if it isn’t fun! Push through the training. It’s worth it. Walking with others is so much easier when you are there with others doing the trek. – Anthony
- Invest in good kit – boots with ankle support, good walking socks and plenty of blister plasters! – Rebecca
- Check you backpack fits you well – make sure you can distribute the weight well and remember you can refill your water bottle on the way – you don’t need to lug litres with you. – Julia
- Fuel yourself – Eat properly each day and enjoy the meals available. You need the energy for the long distances and the wine for the anaesthetic! – Rebecca
- Look after each other – Walking as a team makes the hard stretches manageable. Do what you can to support, uplift and stay connected as a team.
- Remember why you are walking – Keep Life’s work in mind. Anthony worked out that “each step represented £0.03 of kind and generous donations from kind and generous donors. So, with grateful thanks to all those; onwards!”
Fundraising
Fundraising turned out to be one of the more daunting parts of the challenge, but also one of the most rewarding. Each pilgrim approached it differently. Some leaned on their parish communities, others reached out boldly to friends, colleagues, and churches. What surprised them most was people’s generosity; even small donations added up quickly, and supporters were often keen to back a cause that makes a tangible difference. Although asking for support didn’t always feel natural or easy, the pilgrims agreed that the response they received was encouraging, humbling, and a reminder that many people do want to help when given the chance.
Rebecca: I went self-funded so just had to raise what I could and I made £500, but, yeah, fundraising is tough!
Nick: I was shameless! I asked every priest, deacon and parish I knew to share with their congregations. I was always overwhelmed with how generous people are. If I achieved anything it’s through the generosity of people – I just put it in their way and people, particularly women, would recognise the charity, what it does and how important it is.
Saying Thank You Isn't Enough
Our pilgrims put so much into the trek to Rome from fundraising in difficult economic times, gruelling training to the long days walking in changeable weather with wet feet! Combined they have raised a whopping £11,947! Money that will go directly to supporting women in some of the most vulnerable times of their life.
To our pilgrims, from all of us at Life, thank you for your commitment, resilience and fantastic fundraising!
If Anthony, Julia, Nick and Rebecca have inspired you to take on an epic challenge in aid of Life, check out our fundraising events page for information on our Camino De Santiago 2026 and other challenge opportunities – where will your footsteps lead?
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