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Scottish Charity Register No. SC043760

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Peter Pickles completes second walk for charity

September 30 2010
Peter cools his feet in a canal. Photo: Paddy Steel Peter cools his feet in a canal. Photo: Paddy Steel
Ex-rough sleeper raises £750 for the organisation that supported him

Having recently completed his second walk to raise money for a local youth charity, ex-rough sleeper Peter Pickles is becoming quite the advocate for community fundraising. Sixty-year-old Pickles (pictured soaking his feet in a canal) completed the 70-mile trek in aid of London charity, Kings Corner Project, which provides courses and activities for young people in Islington. He completed the three-day walk from Kings Corner Project, in Old Street, to Dymchurch, his birthplace on the Kentish coast, at the end of August and raised more than £750.

In April 2008, as reported in The Pavement (London edition), Pickles, having recovered from a violent attack, completed his first 70-mile walk to raise money for the Spitalfield Crypt Trust, the organisation that supported him following the attack.

A former amusement arcade worker, Pickles has been on the streets since 2004, when he lost his wife and job and was evicted from his home. Mr Pickles said: "I am very proud to be doing this walk for such a good cause as Kings Corner Project. My walk is aiming to raise as much money as possible for the charity and promote the wonderful work it does in the borough.

"The workers and volunteers at Kings Corner have really looked after me. They treat me as a normal person, and this is my thank-you to them. My walk shows homeless people and rough sleepers do actually care about others and want to play a full part in contributing positively to our local community", he was reported as saying in the <em>Islington Gazette</em>.

He first became involved with the charity when he was the subject of a documentary on homelessness made by Kings Corner youngsters, and even stopped drinking to be in peak condition for the charity walk.

Sarah Bates, chairwoman of Kings Corner Project, said: "We are delighted that Peter has offered to undertake such an incredible feat as this to help publicise the work we do in the local area.

"Kings Corner Project works tirelessly in Islington aiming to deliver the best quality services and support for local young people. The money that Peter has raised will mean we can continue improving the opportunities we offer to residents."

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