Attention: You are using an outdated browser, device or you do not have the latest version of JavaScript downloaded and so this website may not work as expected. Please download the latest software or switch device to avoid further issues.

News > OC Activity > Connections and Kindness

Connections and Kindness

Last Spring Max Foster (Cubitt 2020) walked from Lands End to John 0’Groats – on his own. He undertook the challenge in honour of his grandfather who died from oesophageal cancer 10 years ago.
1 Oct 2024
Written by Martin Williamson
OC Activity
Max Foster (Cubitt 2020)
Max Foster (Cubitt 2020)

By completing his long held goal to solo hike the 1,231 miles, which took 65 days, he raised (so far) £25,365.75 for Macmillan.   He tells us it was around 2.9 million steps with many adventures along the way:

“The route traverses mostly through national parks and does it’s best to avoid cities and roads.  Almost every landscape in Britain is crossed from the cliff tops of north Cornwall through to the rugged Scottish Highlands.

“There were many challenges along the way from flooded and overgrown footpaths which sometimes resembled an assault course, curious cows, a poisonous adder, pretty much all 200 miles of the penine way which this year was almost entirely bog and a good 600 miles of wondering if summer would ever show up.

“These challenges were tempered however by the kindness of strangers.  Free campsite pitches were common thanks to my Macmillan shirt. The owner of a pub in Wales was kind enough to let me camp in their garden and told me I was having a steak and a pint on the house, this was supplemented by quite a lot of brandy given to me by some dirt bikers from Manchester – hiking the day after required a bit more determination than normal! Also, a very kind lady in Kilsyth owned a bed and breakfast where she agreed to let me camp on their farm. When I arrived however, I was given fresh trout, a shower and a bed free of charge.

“This journey was not just about the miles walked or the money raised; it was also about the connections made and the kindness experienced. It reinforced my belief in the generosity of people and the impact of a shared cause. As the father of national parks John Muir once said, ‘In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks’. I hope my story encourages others to take on their own challenges and witness the support that can come from unexpected places.”

If you would like to sponsor Max you can do so here.

Similar stories

On Saturday 27th April Hector Berry (Loveday 2018) set out at 4am in Marlow and walked/ran More...

Nick Meyer (2&3 South 1962) is celebrating his 80th birthday by walking an 80km cross coun More...

The Old Cranleighan golfers reached the semi-finals of the 2024 Halford Hewitt for the fir More...

Congratulations to Andrew Roberts (East 1981) for the life peerage recently conferred upon More...

Abi Ratoff (South 2017) is an illustrator based in Horsham and London More...

With the support of his current employers (Oil Brokerage Ltd) Henry Taylor (Loveday 2012) More...

On Wednesday, May 11th, Simon Cooper (2 North 1982) and colleagues will be starting a 480k More...

Most read

Newspaper clipping of Private Philip Sargent

Much will be written in the coming days about those involved in the D-Day landings on 6th June 1944. But few stories are quite as sad as that of 24-ye… More...

John Cooke, 2 North 1949-1953

A listing of OCs who have sadly passed away in the last 2 years. More...

Have your say

 
This website is powered by
ToucanTech