By Meg Jorsh

Last updated at 13:15, Wednesday, 04 November 2009

A stepdad who lost his daughter in a terrorist attack will lead a march in Carlisle to promote world peace.

Helen Jones

Activist David Gould, 58, has organised a week-long march through Bitts Park, calling for an end to all forms of war and violence. The Dusty Clogs walk will be Cumbria’s chance to contribute to the international World March for Peace and Nonviolence.

Mr Gould, of Canonbie, started campaigning for peace after his stepdaughter died in the July 7, 2005 bombings.

Chartered accountant Helen Jones, of Chapelknowe, near Canonbie, was just 28 when she was killed in an attack on the London Underground.

He said: “Even after a tragedy, it’s possible to come out with something positive to contribute to the community. I’m trying to take an incredibly negative event, which could have caused a lot of hatred, and say no – that’s not the solution.”

Walkers will be invited to join the march each day from noon to 2pm, between Friday, November 16 and Wednesday, November 21. At the end of the week, the mileage from their laps of Bitts Park will be added up and ‘presented’ to a spokesman for the worldwide march campaign.

He added: “Our initial aim is to walk the 68 miles from the north to the south of the county over the week. It’s based on a Canadian programme for children, where they all run a couple of laps of a racecourse and see if, as a group, they can run right across the country.”

The official World March for Peace and Nonviolence set off from Orkney, New Zealand on October 2, to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday. Dozens of walkers are visiting every continent before they reach their final destination of Macedonia on January 2.

“The idea of world peace seems like a huge, lofty ideal that’s impossible for everyone to achieve,” said Mr Gould. “But we’re also looking at issues that affect people on a local level, like bullying and domestic violence.

“Until you become a more peaceful person yourself, you can’t really look at peace on a wider level.”

First published at 11:37, Wednesday, 04 November 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk