STUDENTS and teachers from Marian College walked from their campus to Gapsted Estate and back again, last Friday, 4 April, to round out the end of term one and to raise funds for Caritas Australia, a non-for-profit charity which helps communities in poverty around the globe.

Dozens of students walked along the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, carrying replica crosses in a relay within their assigned groups, to simulate the real-life burdens of children their age and younger who have to travel great distances each day to access available water.

“We are blessed with such a wonderful day,” Marian College teacher and one of the event coordinators, Maria Fin said.

“We’re almost to our goal of $1500, which will go to 10 entrepreneurs in Africa who are trying to get their communities what they need to thrive, by establishing either water-tanks or wells in their areas.

“As we’re walking the 5.2 kilometres to Gapsted Estate today, we will keep in mind the fact this is a walk in solidarity.

"We’re all so lucky we’ve had access to water from the moment we woke up this morning."

After a liturgy held at 9am in the EMPAC theatre, which featured thought-provoking UNICEF videos and readings from the year nine Student Representative Council who acted as MCs, all participating students and teachers assembled outside to set off for Gapsted Estate.

Each group also walked with one member carrying a phone and a speaker, to make the day a bit more fun and celebrate the last day of school for the term.

With a 9:30am start from campus, the party reached Gapsted Estate at 11am and broke for lunch.

Some students who were not able to walk were taken by bus to Gapsted to join in with the day's activities.

Some of the students' parents and community prayer partners were also at Gapsted Estate to welcome the party after the first part of the trip and enjoy lunch with the students and teachers.

Once everyone recovered, students viewed an Easter presentation, before the departure back to Marian College at 12:30pm.

The walkers arrived back at the school's oval at approximately 2pm to cross the finish line.