The 2024 Scalp Mountain Walk to take place today

The Derry Concern group will participate in its annual Scalp Mountain Walk this afternoon.

Walkers are encouraged to meet between 2.00 and 3.00 pm. Scalp Mountain is over 1500 ft but is perfectly safe for even the most inexperienced walker as there is a concrete path leading to the communication mast at the top. This date has been chosen to have the best chance of reasonable weather.

Good conditions cannot be guaranteed on any mountain so all walkers are advised to have suitable footwear and clothing. The walk is supervised by Concern volunteers and refreshments will be provided along the route. We hope the event will be completed by 5.00pm. The beginning of the walk is well signposted. It is situated about two miles east of Burnfoot Co Donegal. Car parking is available.

The Derry Concern group are grateful to the McLaughlin family who provide access to their land each year to facilitate the walk. The early part of the walk is steep but walkers are provided with great views of the surrounding countryside during their walk. The walk has been a feature of the Concern programme with a special emphasis on family participation.

The family theme is appropriate as Concern Worldwide is an organization that seeks to help families under pressure in 26 countries around the world. We have relied on the generosity of Derry and Donegal people in recent years  for to send funds to countries struggling with poverty as a result of global warming, natural disasters and war.

Recent campaigns have helped countries in crisis: Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria and Turkey. These crisis hotspots cease very quickly to become newsworthy but the problems people face continue beneath the media radar. Concern helps with emergency aid providing food, shelter and medical support. In the longer term its work concentrates on food security, education and health largely using staff recruited locally. Whatever the cause of these problems, families struggle to survive in circumstances we find difficult to imagine.

The terrible situation in Gaza is complicated because the various aid agencies are not able to gain access. Concern is not directly involved but is working, as it always does in any crisis, with partners to help in the situation.

Those taking part in the walk can donate directly to Concern at the foot of the mountain. Donations can also be made to the Concern Worldwide website or through: https://justgiving.com/page/derryscalp