Hillingdon activists walked around Ruislip Lido last Saturday to celebrate 50 years of the global Amnesty International campaigning organisation.

Twenty members, aged seven to 80, walked 2.5km each – a total of 50km for 50 years.

At the end they raised a toast to freedom, symbolising the two Portuguese students who did exactly that and were arrested, which prompted Peter Benenson to found the organisation.

Janet Tyas, who organised the walk, said: “Everyone taking part had a good time.

“Despite dark clouds in the morning we enjoyed sunny conditions as we walked.”

The group raised £135 in donations, which will be given to Amnesty International UK and fund their future campaigns.

The Hillingdon group, in line with thousands of activists across the world, seeks to raise awareness to human rights issues and protect people who are denied their rights.

At the moment, the group’s biggest campaign is ‘Demand Dignity’, which aims to end the human rights violations that fail to protect poor people.

They participate actively in many other things, such as increasing the profile of the group and lobbying their MPs in the area to make them aware of the issues.

Ms Tyas works at Brunel University and is working to recruit new members and increase support for vulnerable people around the globe.

She said: “Amnesty International and its supporters have done much to protect human rights around the world.

“We cannot say, however that the job has been done.

“We feel that there will continue to be an important role for Amnesty International for many years to come.”