Scottish Catholic Observer

Sam Wain recently sold Medjugorje souvenirs at the back of St Bride’s Church as part of his efforts to raise money for the charity Childreach. In August, the 20-year-old will travel to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.

Childreach International works in partnership with local communities in the developing world to secure children basic rights. They help children learn in a good school, stay healthy and keep safe and have worked against child trafficking.

Mr Wain said he got involved in the fundraising efforts after being asked by his friend to take part.

“My friend came up with the idea and she asked me to do it and I was like, ‘Right, okay, I’ll just climb Kilimanjaro’—she kind of guilt tripped me! I went to the meeting and I just signed up for it.”

A mountaineering novice, Mr Wain’s experience thus far has been mainly walking up hills with his dad—‘literally once a year.’

“I’m only a bit worried about the mental side,” he said. “When I’m climbing up I think the last few days will be horrendous—I’ll be thinking I really don’t want to do this anymore.”

Mr Wain said he has been doing some altitude training because ‘apparently its pretty horrendous when you get to the top—you walk 100 metres in an hour, thinking you are going really fast but you are actually going really slow.’

While Mr Wain said his Faith has pushed him to do charity work and want to do things for others, the former Medjugorje pilgrim said that he is struggling with his Faith a little.

“I want to experience more culture and faiths so I can think about mine in context,” he said. “I have been to Medjugorje and experienced some fantastic things. It’s still important to me but I’m only 20 years old—I don’t have a clue what I’m having for

He is hoping to raise £1500 for the charity in the lead up to his trip, and is planning to pay for the cost of his climb out of his own pocket. His fundraising efforts so far have included collections in pubs and receiving generous donations from parishioners and friends. A keen poker player, Mr Wain has raised hundreds of pounds for charity from the card game though he has some ethical qualms about his talents.

— To help Sam Wain and Childreach with their much-needed work, visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/samwain1

—[email protected]

—Read the full version of this story in January 23 edition of the SCO in parishes from Friday.