Ten Tors Tale
- barbarabrittain212
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
👥 Roland Oakley, St Petroc’s verger and venue manager for Bodmin Way, took part in this year’s Bodmin Lions Ten Tors, held on Sunday 3 May 2026.
This marks the sixth consecutive year that Roland has participated in the event. Over the years, he has raised funds for a range of causes, including St Petroc’s Church, St Petroc’s (Homeless) Society, KBSK, Mothers’ Union, and the St Piran’s Day Committee.
Raising Funds
Joining Roland this year was Festo, who leads the charity Empowering the Future—the cause the team is supporting through their fundraising efforts.
On his JustGiving page, Festo explains:
“I am taking part in the Bodmin Lions Ten Tors trek and raising sponsorship for Friends of Empowering the Future, a UK charity that supports Empowering the Future in Tanzania. The charity focuses on supporting people in the Dodoma region to build sustainable lives, including through climate-smart approaches to farming for subsistence farmers. You can read about it here."
The JustGiving page is expected to remain open for a short time after the event and at the time of writing it can be viewed here.
Training
As part of his preparation, Roland completed a non-stop 13-mile walk from Bodmin to Padstow—before catching the bus home! His training also included more challenging routes across Roughtor and Brown Willy.
On Route
Roland said:
“It was a good day for a walk, unlike last year when it was too hot, we had a mild cloudy day with some refreshing mizzle as we climbed Brown Willy.
“Walking with Festo was a joy but exhausting; the man is a ‘walking machine’ who had a constant walking tempo of ten minutes per km, even up hill! It was me who slowed him down. Walking up Rougher he took my hand and dragged me up like a parent with a child.
“I achieved my fastest ever time which was amazing but on the last tor I had cramp in all my leg muscles. Despite this we finished in a time of 4 hours 24 minutes which was in the top 60 walkers out of 271.
“I love the challenge of the Ten Tors and each year I think I will find it easier, but the reality is it’s a really hard, physical walk. I have promised Festo I will train properly for next year, so I don’t slow him down! It was a shame some of our team couldn’t take part, but I am hoping they can participate next year”
Festo said he thoroughly enjoyed the hike and its physical challenge. Aside from some aching knees, he came through it well—and is already considering taking part again next year.
He spoke warmly of the experience of walking alongside Roland, enjoying conversation when the terrain allowed.
Although some who had planned to take part were unable to do so, there is always next year, thinks Festo.
Perhaps one day, Team Exodus will even travel to Tanzania to visit the project—and maybe take on Mount Kilimanjaro! Festo says he would love that opportunity.
Success and Gratitude
Funds raised are expected to be between £1200 - £1300!
Festo said:
“Thank you to everyone who sponsored me. It was a dream to aim for £500, so I am blown away by the total we have raised. It will make such a difference to the work of Empowering the Future in Tanzania. It should enable us to complete the water harvesting project—and may go even further.”
Roland said:
“I would like to thank everyone who sponsored us, for the support and prayers, to Sadie for creating such lovely T-shirts, Bodmin Lions for all their hard work in making the event happen, Festo for helping me round, and finally God for his constant care.”
Motivation
Roland said:
“It is hard not to be motivated to raise money for Empowering the Future when you see and hear the joy and passion that Festo has when talking about the project and knowing the huge impact the money raised will have in Tanzania.”
He added:
“Team Exodus is definitely looking forward to Festo’s kind invite to go to Tanzania to see how the project progresses, although that won’t be until May/June 2027, as their cold months are hotter than a British summer! The Mount Kilimanjaro climb came from our talks while doing the Ten Tors - that’s when I could breathe!”
Roland and Festo were among many who took part in the Ten Tors challenge, motivated by a shared commitment to supporting others.
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