Luton Food Bank volunteer Maggie Herod, 77, is about to embark upon an epic 53 mile walk along the River Lea to highlight the growing need for food banks in our area. She’ll be walking from Leagrave, where the Rive Lea rises, to Limehouse Basin in London. She starts her walk on Sunday 8th September and plans to complete it six days later. She’ll be walking close to 13 kilometres from Batford Springs Nature Reserve in Harpenden to Hatfield, starting at 10am on Monday 9th September. Maggie, and her rescue dog Kiwi, would welcome supporters for part or all of their walk!

Maggie said: “there used to be 14 water mills along the Rive Lea, now there are 12 food banks. I am walking not for myself but for my children, my grandchildren and the future of everyone’s children and grandchildren. I want them to live in a just and fair society, not one which is disgraced by profound social divide.”

Commenting on the walk, Hitchin and Harpenden Labour Party chair David Josephs said: “I’ll be accompanying Maggie on her walk, and I hope others will want to do so too. I’ve also volunteered in foodbanks locally, and can see just how important they have become. Whilst it is wonderful they exist to help people who are in difficulties, it is shameful too. The inequalities in our society are growing, and this has been exacerbated by close to ten years of austerity. We need change.”

Maggie is asking for people to sponsor her, with all money donated supporting Luton Food bank. You can donate at Sponsor Maggie here