Caritas Australia’s annual Lenten fundraiser is expanding, incorporating a new challenge, the Long Walk for Water.
During Lent each year, the Catholic aid agency runs Project Compassion to raise funds to help alleviate poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity in the most vulnerable communities in the world.
Around 1,700 Catholic schools and 1,200 parishes across Australia take part through a range of events that remain at the heart of Project Compassion.
The popular Big Water Walk is back in 2025. School communities can complete a walking challenge of their own design.
The suggested distance is a six-kilometre walk around the school or a local park.
Decide what your challenge looks like, then simply commit to that for 40 days.
The new challenge, the Long Walk for Water, can be taken up by individuals or groups and requires a commitment for the full period of Lent.
Participants set a daily goal—for example, a pledge to walk 30 minutes a day for 40 days.
Friends, family and other supporters then donate an agreed amount, and it goes towards Caritas projects to supply water tanks in marginalised communities overseas.
Caritas Australia is proud of the new event, says Community Fundraising Manager Leanne Langdon.
‘Many walking challenges aren’t very inclusive, focusing heavily on distances covered when not everyone has the time or the physical ability to do that,’ she says.
‘With the Long Walk for Water, you or your team can decide what your challenge looks like, then simply commit to that for 40 days.’
Other ways to take part in Project Compassion include hosting an event—a family games night or pancake Tuesday, for example—and Give It Up for Lent, with the money saved from forgoing a luxury item donated to Caritas.
This year, new fundraising options are on offer through a simple digital sign-up form enabling schools, parishes, individuals, groups and organisations to set up live and shareable fundraising pages.
Leanne Langdon says Project Compassion has continued to move with the times since it began in the mid-1960s.
‘Those who want to fundraise online and share their efforts on social media will find it easier than ever to do so,’ she says.
Learn more about Project Compassion here.
Banner image: The Long Walk for Water, Project Compassion’s new fundraising challenge, can be taken up by individuals or groups and requires a commitment for the full period of Lent. (Photo courtesy of Caritas Australia.)
