We take twenty 6th form students from St Thomas More RC Academy, North Shields. In preparation our students are proactive with fundraising activities, e.g. musical evenings, race nights, cake sales, bottle raffles, bag packing and sponsored walks. When in Lourdes we help and support with wheelchairs, the playbase, blessed sacrament processions, and torchlight processions. Our multi-talented group also forms a band and go round a number of hotels entertaining North East groups. All our students help support a family group throughout the week and many will return with family groups. They come as friends, we leave as family. This could not be more true. For those with faith no explanation is necessary; for those without no explanation is possible.