A man who encountered a “life altering and life affirming” experience while on holiday in Turkey is set to cycle 2,246 miles to Jerusalem.

Andrew Foote had an “intimate and potent experience” when visiting the House of the Virgin Mary, near Ephesus, in Turkey, where she is said to have spent her final years.

Such was the power of his experience, the 32-year-old will set off on his challenge – called a “Cycle4Hope” – from Westminster Cathedral on 15th August, which coincides with the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady.

He has chosen to raise funds for Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) which supports suffering and persecuted Christians. 

The self-employed gardener was undertaking a pilgrimage to Turkey in September 2025 when he had “quite a spectacular experience” upon entering House of the Virgin Mary. 

He said: “I had the most powerful life altering experience of my life. It was the most intimate and most potent feeling I’ve ever had of meeting the Holy Spirit. 

“It felt like I touched the infinite. It was the happiest, the most in love, the most awe-inspiring, most overwhelming life affirming experience I’ve had in my life. Nothing comes close to it.”

He said he arrived at the house very late in the day, around 5pm, when few people were present. 

He added: “There was a weight of expectation pressing down on me and I almost felt like my spirit was being lifted as I walked to her house.

“I’m 32 now, but was 31 then, and there was no amount of self-control and self-will that could have stopped me from not falling on my knees and going into floods of tears. 

“There were about 10 people in the room – normally I’m self-conscious but everything around me disappeared. It was equivalent of knowing your own mother the way you do but not having met her in person and meeting her for the first time. 

“I always believed in the divinity of Jesus Christ – and in Mary's powerful intercession with her son  – but when I went to her house and experienced what I experienced, it was an affirmation. 

“I knew without a shadow of a doubt from that moment onwards that it was true. It totally transformed my life.”

Andrew hopes to walk from Amman in Jordan to Israel but with conflicts raging the in the Middle East, said he must do more research.

He added: “If it’s safe, I have no problems whatsoever. Jordan is a safe country and has been for a long time… I feel called to a religious vocation. Part of my journey to Jerusalem is to walk in the land where Christ walked.

“I really believed Mary interceded in my life that day to bring my closer to her son and the place where I feel that can be fulfilled is Jerusalem. I might be wrong but I’ve felt a calling to go to Jerusalem for quite a long time now and this is it.” 

He said: “Considering I’m cycling across Europe and the Holy Land I’d be stupid not to raise money for a worthwhile cause and ACN topped the list for me. 

“I have deep empathy and sympathy for persecuted Christians who suffer for their faith and pay the ultimate price.”

Andrew is taking part in ACN's #RedWednesday £1Million4Hope Matched Challenge, where all proceeds are doubled.

‍To donate to Andrew click here.  For more information on how you can take action and get involved visit: https://acnuk.org/redwednesday