'The Great Big Walk' is coming to Enniskillen and Omagh

by Gráinne Connolly

'The Great Big Walk' will be passing through Enniskillen and Omagh this weekend. 

On the 29th of May five teams of walkers set off from Batley, West Yorkshire and travel home to five corners of the UK.

The Great Big Walk is organised by the Eden Project and it aims to highlight the diversity of communities which make up the backbone in the UK, while demonstrating the community that everyone shares. 

Peter Stewart is the Eden Project Executive Director. 

He said: “The Great Big Walk is an incredible project that will shine a light on the ordinary people all over the UK doing extraordinary things for their
community.

Whether coming together in celebration or in solidarity, in times like these the importance of community unity is greater than ever before.This project will share the positive impact that people coming together can have."

Noel Johnston from Omagh and Olivia Cosgrove from Enniskillen are participating in the walk back to Northern Ireland and will be stopping off in their home towns as they finish at the 'Holylands Big Lunch' in Belfast.  

Q Radio was speaking to Noel and Olivia while they were still in England at the beginning of the walk.

Noel Johnston said he was thankful to have the opportunity to be a part of the project: 

Noel's also organising his own community event that everyone is welcome to Omagh: 

Olivia Cosgrove said she decided to take part in the big walk because of it's concept of bringing communities together. 

She says she's been inspired from previous volunteer work, particularly in Greece: 

Like Noel, Olivia's holding a community event in her home town of Enniskillen. 

Hers will be an evening row. 

Both are encouraging as many local people to come out and show their support for The Great Big Walk. 

They'll be entering Omagh on Saturday, 10th June for the community BBQ and Enniskillen, 11th June for the evening row on the Erne.