The Palace Theatre’s Operations Director, Maureen McAllister, is off on her annual fundraising walking pilgrimage in October, this time tackling the Rota Vicentina, a network of walking routes in the Alentejo and Algarve provinces in Southern Portugal, which includes the Fishermen’s Trail and the Historical Way and is ranked as some of the most scenic routes in Europe.

Over the 7 days she will be walking the route, Maureen will surely enjoy the scenery, but her main purpose will be to raise funds for community activities at the Palace Theatre and to support local charity, ESSW Charitable Trust, who focus on children caught up in humanitarian crises.

Maureen started virtual walking challenges during lock down where her daily walk to work clocked up miles on some iconic virtual hikes.

‘The virtual routes I’ve taken on include Route 66, Land’s End to John O’Groats, the Grand Canyon and the Estrada Real to name but a few.’

It inspired her to try some of the actual pilgrimages including the Camino de Santiago (2022) and Via Francigena (2023); and at the same time she has raised over £3,000.

‘I’ve walked thousands of miles since I started my virtual and actual walking challenges, and worn out masses of pairs of trainers’ said Maureen. ‘The actual pilgrimages and walks are obviously more fun and have proven an inspirational way to raise the much needed funds for good causes’.

As Maureen funds her adventures herself, it means that every penny donated is directed to the causes she is supporting.  Maureen recently took to the stage at the Palace Theatre to talk about her walking journeys so far, and has been invited along to several local groups to deliver the same. So she is enjoying stepping on to the stage as well as the pathways.

Maureen heads off to Portugal in October this time tackling the Rota Vicentina, a network of walking routes in the Alentejo and Algarve provinces; her GoFundMe link https://gofund.me/e4034449 is open now – she also shares updates on her progress while she is away via the Palace Theatre’s Facebook page.

If you can support the good causes she is walking for, please do.