From 28 July to 1 August, Eve and I walked five marathons in five days, forming a giant, heart-shaped loop across the Peak District. We covered over 122 miles and climbed more than 18,253 feet, roughly the height of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) every day.
It was, without question, the hardest physical and mental thing either of us has ever done. But looking back now, what stands out most isn't the distance, the blisters or even the views. It's the people and community.
The idea behind the challenge was relatively simple. We wanted to walk 130 miles across the Peak District, the same approximate distance that Pious' body was transported from Sheffield to his UK memorial service following his death, before being repatriated to his home country, Zimbabwe. We hoped to transform what had been a final journey of grief into something rooted in remembrance, solidarity, and collective action. We also set ourselves a £12,000 fundraising target to replenish the community funds that enabled Pious' dignified repatriation, support the long-term work of Voice of Voiceless Immigration Detainees Yorkshire (VVIDY), the organisation he co-founded, and commission a permanent community mural celebrating his life and legacy.
Why I Walked
I walked for Pious because he was an inspiration. He was a scholar, organiser, educator, and comrade whose life exemplified resilience and a steadfast commitment to justice and liberation. His death followed a devastating mental health crisis, and for me, his story cannot be separated from the conditions in which he was forced to live. His life reflects the experiences of many people seeking safety whose lives continue to be shaped by systems that cause harm.
So I wasn't just walking in memory of Pious. I was walking in solidarity with everyone seeking sanctuary, both here in the UK and across the world, whose lives are influenced by displacement, exclusion and systems of harm. I was walking for a world where everyone can live with dignity, safety and the freedom to move.
There was something else about the challenge that stayed with me throughout the five tough days. It is a privilege to walk.
I’m incredibly lucky to have the Peak District National Park on my doorstep, to be able to step outside and spend a day moving through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country. But walking itself is a privilege. For many people seeking sanctuary, walking isn't a choice. People are often forced to flee their homes and make long, dangerous journeys across borders, sometimes walking for months or even years in search of safety. And once here, with incredibly minimal financial support and no legal access to work, public transport can be unaffordable, meaning many people continue to walk simply because they have no other option.
We had the privilege of choosing to walk 130 miles. We wanted to use that privilege to walk in solidarity with those who are forced to.
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Getting Ready
I've done challenges before, including the National Three Peaks Challenge for St Augustine's Centre in 2024, as well as plenty of hiking and running over the years, and I've always loved being outdoors. But injuries in recent years had slowed me down, so there was plenty of training to do.
We both managed a near-marathon together, practising the second day's route from Edale to Bollington during a June heatwave. It was hot enough that we had to seriously consider what we would do if similar temperatures were forecast during the challenge itself. We had to prioritise safety over completing the challenge and agreed to postpone if needed, but fortunately, that decision never had to be made.
If walking 5 marathons was the physical challenge, planning it was the logistical one. We had a heart-shaped route to create, split as evenly as possible across five days, with every section following public rights of way. We needed accommodation at the end of each leg, places to rest, and easily accessible locations where people could join us for shorter sections. We called these our Sanctuary Stops and contacted pubs, cafés, community spaces and businesses along the route.
Alongside that came the fundraising campaign. We reached out to national organisations, community groups, influencers, local businesses, eventually building a network of 24 organisations supporting the challenge (see the logos at the bottom of the page). There were spreadsheets, risk assessments, social media plans, press outreach and endless logistical conversations. What had started as an idea was becoming something much bigger.
We also had the opportunity to share the challenge on BBC Radio Sheffield with Sile Sibanda on her Friday show before we set off, talking about the challenge and why we were doing it. There’s more to come, as we’ll be back on the show towards the end of August to share how it went, so stay tuned!
The Five Days
On Tuesday 28th July, at 8am, we set out to walk. The first morning was incredibly emotional. We gathered outside The Sanctuary (City of Sanctuary Sheffield) surrounded by friends, comrades, community members, and colleagues who had come to send us off and join us for the first 8 miles.
It also nearly began with me carrying a bag full of water, after a bottle leaked everywhere before we'd even set off. Perhaps not the most reassuring start to an immense 5-day challenge.
From Sheffield, we headed through Walkley, Pious' UK home, and into the Peak District. Over the five days, we passed through the Hope Valley, Edale, up Jacobs Ladder and over Kinder Scout, through Bollington and the landscapes around Tegg's Nose and Ilam, before making our way through Carsington Water, Wirksworth, and Matlock and eventually back towards Sheffield.
There were some truly spectacular moments. Hiking through the Peaks was a privilege, where I had to remind myself to look up and appreciate where we were.
But the challenge was hard. After Day 1, your legs are tired. After Day 2, your entire body is wiped out. By Day 3 and 4, significant blisters had appeared, our energy was dropping, and both of our old injuries were making themselves known. My knees needed strapping and Eve's ankle required the same attention. By Day 5, our bodies were close to breaking point.
Our mindset had to change. We stopped thinking about 130 miles. Then we stopped thinking about the next 26.21 miles. Instead, it became the next Sanctuary Stop, then the next stile, and then the next step.
The Community
The biggest thing I valued from the five days is how often someone appeared exactly when we needed them. Thirty people and two very cute dogs joined us at different points across the challenge. Together, everyone who took part walked a staggering 584.26 miles in solidarity, the equivalent of more than 22 marathons, or similar to walking from Sheffield to Basel, Switzerland.
A special shout-out to Ruaridh, who walked a marathon with us on the first day before going back to work at the ASSIST offices the following day. And to Jam, who joined us for three marathons! You're both amazing.
Then there were the family members and close friends who were essential to making the challenge possible. They joined us for sections of the walk, helped with food, spare clothes, supplies and all the things we didn't have the capacity to carry or think about.
When things became particularly difficult, we'd look at the JustGiving page and read the kind messages of encouragement supporters had left. We'd see another donation or a comment on social media and suddenly have motivation to keep going. It sounds small, but during those final days, it mattered enormously.
We were also supported by 24 amazing organisations and groups from across the country, alongside countless individuals, pubs, cafés and businesses that welcomed walkers as Sanctuary Stops. A particular thank you goes to everyone (especially Martin) at Tegg's Nose Country Park and The Nose Coffee, who warmly welcomed us on Day 3, giving us shelter from the rain. You provided us with much more than a raincoat and somewhere to dry off. That moment encapsulated what the whole challenge was about. People opening their doors, looking after one another and creating welcome and sanctuary when it was needed most. (Also one of the best cinnamon buns I’ve ever had, so go visit).
The Final Day
By Saturday morning, we were heading back towards Sheffield for the final day. Our legs were exhausted, our feet were sore, and our bodies were feeling every mile.
Friends, family, and members of the community joined us along the way, helping carry us through those final steps. We eventually reached Abbeydale Road, joining the atmosphere of the Abbeydale Road Beer Festival and stopping at The Broadfield, Abbeydale Beer Works Taproom and Rumkeg 876. People spotted us in our walking gear, asked what we were doing, and some even donated to the fundraiser there and then.
The main finish was at The Sanctuary, where we were welcomed by a community celebration and meal. People who had walked with us, known and loved Pious, community members, friends, family and comrades all came together.
After months of planning and five immense days, there was food, laughter, stories and a huge sense of relief. It also felt like the right way to finish. The challenge had never really been about just two people walking. It was about what happens when a community come together around a shared belief in solidarity, dignity and justice.
If you'd like to see more of what those five days looked like, our recent social media video captures some of the highlights. Follow ASSIST and VVIDY on social media for more content from the walk and reflections still to come.
Thank You
There are far too many people to name individually, but to everyone who donated, shared the fundraiser, joined us for a mile, hosted us, gave us somewhere to rest, offered us food or water, checked in, and sent us a message: thank you.
The walk is over, but the fundraising isn't. We've raised an incredible amount already, and I'm genuinely overwhelmed by everyone's generosity. But we're still just under £2,000 short of our £12,000 goal.
After everything this community has achieved, I'd really love to see us reach that final target. If you can donate, please do. If you can't, sharing the fundraiser is just as valuable.
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Thank you to everyone who made this possible. For Pious. One step at a time.
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