A LONGRIDGE man has raised vital money for a third-world village after hitch-hiking 1,500 miles across Europe.

Former Stonyhurst College student Ben Warrilow, 24, decided to raise money for a mission on the border between Kenya and Ethiopia after working there during the summer.

To help raise money to build a fishing boat to give the people living at the mission a sustainable income as well as food, Ben travelled from services at Bluebell Way in Grimsargh — all the way to Budapest in Turkey.

The law and business student said: “The mission, Our Lady Queen of Peace – Todonyang, lies in the middle of the desert with the nearest town 200km away and roughly a day’s ride because there are no roads.

“It also lies in the middle of two warring tribes – the Dassanech and the Turkana. The constant struggle with poverty and tribal violence is a shocking and haunting memory that will stay with me forever.”

Travelling alongside his friend Naz Athimoolam, who suggested Budapest off the top of his head, Ben kept his friends updated through Facebook as he visited eight countries in eight days.

He described the journey as ‘a truly unforgettable experience enhanced by the fantastic people that picked us up along the way.’ He arrived back home safe at the end of last week.

Ben raised more than £370 but is still accepting donations online in a bid to hit his target of £800.

The money will go towards charity New Ways, which helps communities in the poorest and most neglected parts of the world.

Visit www.justgiving.com/benwarrilow. To donate via mobile, text 88 followed by the amount to 70070.