A Prayer to All Refugees

It's Wednesday morning and our walk is ending. We thank our excellent guides Roelof and George. I say 'Au revoir' and mean it; I can't wait to get back to the Pyrenees. I also discover that Eric is discussing coming back, but with a slighter easier route in mind so that more people can participate. More than one person says that this is the most arduous adventure he or she has ever undertaken.

Brian asks us to conclude with a prayer for all refugees, those who flee tyranny in whichever land, who try to swim from Africa to Spain, who hide in the backs of lorries or the holds of ships, who suffer simply because of who they are, and who still believe in freedom.

We all agree. Our climb has been intended as a memorial to those who fled across these mountains over sixty years ago, as a tribute to everyone who walks the path of freedom, and as a gesture to say that we stand by their side.