live simply - local heroes

CAFOD's Diocesan Manager Chris Lappine nominates

Ben Ward - Young local hero

We asked Ben what has inspired him to become involved:

Ben Ward "I first became aware of CAFOD's work whilst at Leyland St. Mary's High School thanks to the inspirational school chaplain, Jimmy O'Donnell. The whole school became involved in numerous fund raising efforts as well as various lobbying events to highlight the excellent work that CAFOD does with its overseas partners.

Jimmy encouraged me to join the Archdiocese of Liverpool Youth Pilgrimage to Lourdes in 2003. Having enjoyed and gained so much from the experience in that first pilgrimage I signed up to go again and again, and have now been a total of 6 times.

During the pilgrimage in the summer of 2007 I met Stephen Davies, who works at CAFOD HQ in Brixton, and Fr Michael Fitzsimons, a great CAFOD supporter. The pair of them were looking for young people in the archdiocese to form a CAFOD youth group. Thinking back to my school days, I felt motivated to get involved with CAFOD and to help those less fortunate than myself.

My first role as a Young Volunteer required me to dress up as a giant Gold Bar (!) at the CAFOD Liverpool Fun Run, held annually between Christmas and New Year. The gold bar costume was used to promote CAFOD's Unearth Justice campaign, and being inside it was the closest I've ever felt to being a celebrity - I've never been asked for my picture so much in one day!

Ben with colleagues from Zimbabwe In 2008, I was fortunate enough to be part of the Liverpool Archdiocese group which went to World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia. It was here that I met young people from all over the world, and it was a chance encounter on an Aussie beach which really inspired me to step-up my involvement with CAFOD.

The group of us from Liverpool met 3 wonderful young people from Zimbabwe who had been through so much in the lives and just to be part of the World Youth Day experience with them was very humbling.

CAFOD and their partners do great work all over the world, including Zimbabwe and the thought that they may have helped those young people really brought home the fantastic work they do.

Since my return from Australia I have been involved in various school and community workshops for CAFOD as well as the Climate Justice campaign launch in Liverpool. I have also graduated from University this year and I hope to be able to take my experiences with CAFOD into the working world and spread the news of their tireless and wonderful work."

Ben has been part of the Liverpool CAFOD Youth Group since it began in 2007 and I am delighted to nominate him as our local hero. He has presented various CAFOD workshops at events around the Archdiocese in colleges, high schools and youth groups with great enthusiasm, fun and a firm belief in what he is doing. He was the only one who would agree to wear the 'Goldie' costume to promote the Unearth Justice Campaign at the Liverpool Fun Run - though when the 'gold lame' tights disappeared there were some raised eyebrows!

Ben is off back to his old school next month to help his inspirational hero Jimmy O'Donnell run their CAFOD day, let's hope history repeats itself!