The walk is six miles long, beginning at St. Augustine’s Church in Vineyard Haven (56 Franklin street), heading to the Camp Ground in Oak Bluffs and then returning to Vineyard Haven. That might seem like a long way to some, or just a quick jaunt for others. Either way, it’s a walk steeped in history and helping others.

The 2015 CROP walk takes place this Sunday, Oct. 18, beginning at 2 p.m. The walk is the largest fundraiser for Church World Service, which focuses on alleviating poverty and hunger around the world. Church World Service is a cooperative ministry of 37 denominations and was founded in 1946. The CROP walk began in the 1960s. Each year, communities around the country walk to raise funds and awareness for causes around the world and at home. Twenty five per cent of any money raised stays in each individual community.

Over the years, the Vineyard CROP walk has raised over $400,000. And for most of those walks, Rev. Alden Besse has been at the helm. He organized the first Vineyard walk in 1991 and has been its spiritual leader ever since. Now in his 90s, Mr. Besse has given over the reigns of organizing the day, but he will still be out in his wheelchair, in solidarity with the other walkers.

For more information or to sign up to walk, visit crophungerwalk.org or call 508-693-7250.