Ex-prisoner Glenn turns his life around and undertakes epic charity walk

by Orla Mullan

A reformed ex-prisoner from County Derry has just completed an epic charity walk while carrying a 12 foot cross over his shoulder.

Glenn Connor, from Ballykelly, began the walk on August 7 at Jordanstown, and travelled along the entire Causeway Coastal route before finishing at Derry's Peace Bridge on August 16.

The nine day walk saw 36 year-old Glenn lug the wooden cross over 190 miles, all in the name of charity.

Glenn decided to take on the cross walk to raise £3,000 for Fields of Life, E3 Initiative and a mission team which is traveling to Papua New Guinea in October.

Fields of Life is a Christian charity that digs wells in Africa and provides clean drinking water to communities that have to walk miles for less than acceptable water to drink.

The E3 initiative charity is working with Sunrise Ministries to help people infected with HIV.

Glenn said the inspiration for the walk came to him while he was serving a prison sentence in Magilligan Prison in 2014.

The local man admits that he was always 'in constant trouble' and 'in and out of prison' having been convicted of drugs and public order related offences.

"In 2014, I was in Magilligan Prison serving another prison sentence and I just thought to myself that this wasn't the life that I wanted," he said.

It was only while watching a documentary on American Arthur Blessitt, who carried a cross around the world in every nation, that Glenn decided to make changes to his life.

"It was then that I asked God and Jesus into my life," continued Glenn.

"Watching that documentary had such an impact on me and I was really inspired by what he (Blessitt) did.

"I always believed that there was a God but I never had a relationship with him until that point.  The turnaround in my life now is unbelievable and all the glory must go to God.  I'm no longer the same person that I was and this walk has been such a blessing as I have met so many wonderful people along the way."

Glenn said he was delighted with the reception he received from locals in Limavady and Ballykelly as he made his journey onward to Derry.

"I was a bit nervous heading through Limavady and Ballykelly as I didn't know what kind of reception I would receive from people but it was unbelievable.  So many people turned out to cheer me on.  It was great."

Glenn says he has been alcohol and drug-free since December 2015, an achievement which he says would not have been possible without the support of christian rehab program, Team Challenge.

Glenn spent 19 months working with the organisation, which has a drop-in centre in Belfast, and has described them as 'a miracle factory'.

He has now been accepted onto a three year course at Birmingham Christian College, which he is due to start later next month.

"It's been such a big turnaround in my life but I couldn't be happier," added Glenn.

If you would like to make a donation towards Glenn's fundraiser, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/glen-connor