The Mead family has been at the heart of Christian Aid’s mission for four generations.
From door-to-door collections to church events, they've tirelessly fundraised to help create lasting change. Their story is one of faith, resilience and hope passed down through the years.
They're part of a wider movement that has kept Christian Aid’s work alive for 80 years. Through times of war and crisis to moments of joy, supporters like them have ensured that love and justice reach every corner of the world.
With seven days, there are so many ways to fund lasting change. This Christian Aid Week, what will you do?
A legacy of giving
Mike and Linda’s journey with Christian Aid began in the 1950s, with Mike’s mother being the first to get involved. She believed in putting faith into action and saw Christian Aid Week as a chance to do just that.
For her, it wasn’t just about raising money, it was about standing with people facing poverty and injustice. That belief has continued to shape their family, generation after generation.
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I think it was sort of the late eighties into the nineties that we were starting to do the house to house in our road. We were very involved with the church, and within that church life, we were involved with things like Christian Aid Week and collecting. But then as our children became more involved, the Christian aid area representative asked me if I would become the South End Christian Aid treasurer-that would have been early 2000.
Inspired to put your faith into action? Take a stand and ask the UK government to hold reckless polluters accountable.
The strength of family fundraising
We're a close family anyway… But I think that having some shared passion like that, such an important passion that we could all be part of, has been wonderful for us as a family.
Now, their daughter Caroline and her own children are continuing the legacy. Whether it’s running fundraising events or supporting Christian Aid Week in new ways, they’re finding their own path while staying true to the family’s roots. Both Caroline and her daughter, Emily, have featured in Christian Aid magazine, and her son Ethan has completed his share of fundraising too, doing a sponsored scoot around his local park at only 5-years-old.
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So, I featured in the Christian Aid Week Resources when I was 18. And then all these years later, we've come full circle and then you've [Emily] featured on them for the Christmas resources.
Know a Christian Aid fundraiser, activist, or church group making a real difference? Nominate them for the Power of Hope Awards and help us shine a light on their incredible impact. Find out how we’re honouring our most dedicated supporters this May!
A shared purpose
It's been a really wonderful thing for me to feel that I'm part of a much wider family, the Christian Aid family. Whether that was as a volunteer, a supporter or a member of staff, I've always felt part of something much bigger when I've been involved with Christian Aid.
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It’s simple: travel 70K, in whatever way you want, throughout the month of May.
Hope for the future
As Christian Aid marks 80 years of tackling poverty and injustice, stories like these remind us why this work is so vital. Their dedication proves that even the smallest acts of kindness can create lasting change across generations. Hope is not just a word—it’s something we nurture and build together.
It's always been a really important part of my faith, because I believe that Jesus was the man that stood up for the poor and the marginalised and spoke out for those who had no voice. And I really feel for me, as part of my faith, that's where I am called to be as well.
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I think Christian Aid made me understand my faith better. It gave my faith a purpose, it helped me read the Bible in a different way and see that there was a need to be active and to challenge the injustices in this world.
