Moving for hope – a sponsored cycle trip to Taizé
20-year-old Mary’s Meals volunteer, Lucia Höfer, is cycling more than 400 kilometres to raise funds to feed some of the world’s poorest children and connect young people – and you are invited to take part!
Published onIn August 2025, Lucia Höfer will cycle 400 kilometres from Freiburg in Germany to the ecumenical Christian community in Taizé, France, as part of her Move For Hope project that aims to draw attention to world hunger and raise funds to provide daily school meals to some of the world’s poorest children.
In this interview, I talk to Lucia about how she is inviting young people to join her sponsored bike tour or organise their own sponsored trips to Taizé!
Mary’s Meals: Hello Lucia. Firstly, why are you going on a sponsored pilgrimage to Taizé?
Lucia Höfer: Taizé is a place that represents hope and connection for me – a place where people can connect, share and talk openly. It´s one of the world’s most important sites of Christian pilgrimage and puts a big focus on young people. In the last two years, I have visited Taizé three times, talking to other young people about the crises that exist in the world, and what we can do to make the world a better place.
I believe that the first step in changing the world is to have hope. By connecting the idea of going on a pilgrimage to Taizé with raising funds to feed vulnerable children, Move For Hope aims to give hope of a brighter future to the children Mary’s Meals serves. Through this pilgrimage, we want to raise awareness of the crisis in world hunger and share the message that each and every one of us has the power to create change.
Why have you chosen to cycle to Taizé and what will you do when you get there?
I have always loved cycling, and I think it is a great way to travel without being dependent on anything, while also being an incredible challenge. So, I am organising a sponsored bike trip to Taizé, cycling 400 kilometres from Freiburg to Taizé. Everyone is invited to join. We will set off 17 August – mostly be sleeping in tents, farms, churches and camp sites – and plan to arrive in Taizé seven days later on 24 August.
When we arrive in Taizé, we will take part in Taizé’s Reflection Week which will run 31 August. Among many other events, there will be workshops run by Calum MacFarlane-Barrow, our Growth Engagement Lead, and other Mary's Meals team members. We will have accommodation and food provided in Taizé for one week at cost of around 75 euros.
How can people get involved with Move For Hope by organising their own trip to Taizé?
If you are between the ages of 18 and 35, you are welcome to actively participate. There are different ways you can get involved in Move For Hope and each person that signs up can choose their own way of getting to Taizé.
You can organise your own sponsored tour, and choose your own starting point and way of traveling. Or you can take part in the organised sponsored bike trip from Freiburg to Taizé that sets off on 17 August in Freiburg. The most important thing is that you arrive on the 24 August 2025 in Taizé so we can all meet together. I look forward to see you there!
For more information about the project, check out our @move_for_hope_ page on Instagram or you can simply fill out our Move For Hope form and we’ll get back to you. You can also donate directly to the project and help us feed more children And lastly, if you know anyone who might be interested in taking part in Move For Hope, please spread the word!
Finally, how did you first get involved as a volunteer with Mary’s Meals?
I have been involved as a volunteer for Mary’s Meals for three years and I have experienced first-hand what we can achieve if we all work together.
I have done two sponsored bike trips, organised sponsored walks at different schools and helped collect school bags for children in Malawi. I am also a Youth Ambassador for Mary’s Meals in Germany, which involves organising meetings with German youth groups and connecting with people who are interested in supporting Mary’s Meals.
It costs just €22, $25.20 USD or $31.70 CAD to provide a child with school meals for an entire school year. There are many ways you can help us to reach the next hungry child waiting for Mary’s Meals. There may even be a Mary's Meals office or volunteer group in your area. Learn more about how you can get involved and make a difference.
Isla Martin is our Global Youth Engagement Officer.