Fifty thousand pounds has been raised by Reverend David Cupples who walked 670 miles on the Camino de Santiago earlier this year.

The Presbyterian Minister feels “absolutely elated and very humbled” by the generous donations he received in support of his Camino journey. 
He has complied a book called Peregrino (Spanish for pilgrim), the sales from which will continue to raise funds for refugees returning to war-torn Syria and in Jordan, which has hosted more than 650,000 Syrian refugees since 2011.

In June, £20,000 was distributed to a charity called the Barnabas Fund which works with a doctor and pastor in Aleppo called Dr. Jany Haddad. 
That money is being spent on sinking four wells in east Aleppo, where internally displaced people have returned to their homes since the liberation by the Syrian army last December. Those wells will provide crystal clear water to 60,000 people.

READ: Rev.David Cupples on 'speaking with God' on 1,050km Camino

A further £20,000 was sent to Rev. Colin Dickson who runs a church in Jordan which has a ministry for refugees from Syria and Iraq. 
“Colin teaches at Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary, where some of the students are refugees who are struggling to provide for their families,” said Rev. Cupples. 
“I have benefitted so much from education and theological training, I wanted to help them also.”
Since Rev. Cupples returned from his pilgrimage in May, an additional £10,000 has flowed into his fundraising account. 
He also expects book sales to generate more money in the coming months. ‘Peregrino’ features 84 daily readings and includes bible readings, stories about people he met and things that happened along the way. A QR code at the bottom of each reflection can be scanned using a barcode scanner app installed on a smart phone or a tablet, taking the reader to a song or hymn that struck a chord with Rev. Cupples as he walked.
“Each daily reflection has a Bible reading on the page, so it is really a book for believers, for people with a church background or who would at least be willing to read a Bible passage. People on an earnest spiritual quest should find it accessible,” said Rev. Cupples.
“If people want to use it for 15 minutes of reflection a day, they can have music, a bible reading and a thought for the day,” he added. He outlined how he “left normal life behind” and “walked into an open space physically and spiritually to listen to God.”
Rev. Cupples stated: “God spoke in many ways and gave me many wonderful experiences, moments, meetings and thoughts. There were many mundane, ordinary, weary and lonely hours but everything contributed to a unique experience that was enjoyable, educational and which I knew was playing a big part in the formation of my soul.”
He added: “This little book makes no pretence of being a handbook for Christian discipleship, of covering all aspects of Christian living. It simply passes on some of the things that God spoke to me about on the Camino. It is a snapshot of my spiritual journey during that time, part of my ongoing learning and living the life of a Christian pilgrim.”
The book is available from the Church Mouse Shop on East Bridge Street which is open on Fridays, the Real Life Bookshop, by emailing Rev. Cupples directly on dcupples57@gmail.com or by sending him a message through his facebook page: David’s Camino.
He concluded: “I hope people will enjoy it and I hope it will help them on their journey of life.”