HCPT
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| HCPT | |
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| Founder | Michael Strode |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1956 |
| Area served | UK and Ireland (IHCPT) |
| Focus | Charity for Children with Special Needs |
| Revenue | Fund raising |
| Website | HCPT website |
Formerly known as The Handicapped Children's Pilgrimage Trust, HCPT is a United Kingdom based charity which takes children with special needs on a Pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, in Lourdes, France.
In recent years, groups from across the world have started to join the pilgrimage ( USA (ASCPG), West Indies, Romania, Croatia (DUH) & Slovakia). IHCPT has been travelling to Lourdes since 1971.
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[edit] History
HCPT was formed in 1956 by Michael Strode. In the first pilgrimage he took four children with disabilities on a Pilgrimage holiday to Lourdes to visit the the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. Doing so he revolutionised the way that children with disabilities could visit the shrine. Dr Michael arranged for the children to stay in hotels as honoured guests. He organised trips to cafes, donkey rides and many other activities that helped the children to get the most out of their trip.
[edit] Pilgrimages Today
Now that HCPT has become an established charity, it takes around 2000 children from the UK and Ireland, to visit the grotto. The total size of the whole pilgrimage is 5000, which includes all the helpers, nurses, doctors and chaplains. The trips usually last a week and take place during Easter.
Due to the large scale of the pilgrimage every year, many people are asked to volunteer. Each child is looked after by designated helpers within their regional group. Each group is given a number and a colour to represent it for the pilgrimage.
The HCPT Easter Pilgrimage is one of the biggest ever from the UK and is most probably the biggest children's pilgrimage internationally.
[edit] Activities
The holiday pilgrimage is centred around the international shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes and gives children, aged 7-18, with many types of disability or special needs, the opportunity to experience a really stimulating and highly enjoyable group holiday.
