My story

 

My name is Matthew Harrison and on May 4th 2011 I set-off walking from John O' Groats to Land's End in aid of Parkinson's UK, completing the walk 10 weeks later as planned on 12th July .

I decided to walk for Parkinson's UK because my grandad suffered badly from Parkinson's disease before his death and I also have a good friend in Austria who has been diagnosed with the disease relatively recently. I won't go into details about the condition (you can find information on it on the Parkinson's UK website,http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/default.aspx) but I know how adversely it can affect a person's life, having seen the effects first-hand. There is currently no known cure for Parkinson's, although it can be controlled to a degree by drugs, but I hope to be able to give a big donation to boost research into a cure.

The walk took me 72 days, including 4 rest days and 2 days travel. In this time I covered at least 1225 miles with an average walking day of 18.5 miles.  Although the vast majority of the walk was solo, I was accompanied by various friends and family along the way, with my friend James Corkish joining me on the whole of the Pennine Way section of the walk from Kirk Yetholm to Edale.

I stayed with family/friends, in Youth Hostels, B & Bs and hotels. Importantly, all donations go directly to Parkinson's UK as I paid all my costs.

A big thank you to everyone who assisted me during the walk.

I really hope that you can donate, it would really mean a lot to me and, hopefully, the money I raise can make a big difference to many lives in the future.

Please check-out my walk webpage at:

www.WalkoftheUK.weebly.com

 

My itinerary was as follows:

 

May 3rd: Travel to Freswick 

May 4th: Travel to John O’ Groats

May 5th: Walk to Lybster 

May 6th: Walk to Helmsdale 

May 7th: Walk to Golspie 

May 8th: Walk to Tain 

May 9th: Walk to Evanton 

May 10th: Walk to Inverness 

May 11th: Rest Day 

May 12th: Walk to Drumnadrochit 

May 13th: Walk to Fort Augustus

May 14th: Walk to Laggan 

May 15th: Walk to Fort William 

May 16th: Walk to Kinlochleven 

May 17th: Walk to Bridge of Orchy 

May 18th: Walk to Crianlarich 

May 19th: Walk to Rowardennan Lodge 

May 20th: Walk to Croftamie 

May 21st: Walk to Kelvingrove Park 

May 22nd: Rest Day 

May 23rd: Walk to Motherwell 

May 24th: Walk to New Lanark 

May 25th: Walk to Crawford 

May 26th: Walk to Beattock 

May 27th: Walk to Tushielaw 

May 28th: Walk to Traquair 

May 29th: Walk to Melrose 

May 30th: Walk to Jedburgh 

May 31st: Walk to Kirk Yetholm 

June 1: Walk to Byrness 

June 2nd: Walk to Bellingham 

June 3rd: Walk to Greenhead 

June 4th: Walk to Alston 

June 5th: Walk to Dufton 

June 6th: Walk to Middleton-in-Teesdale 

June 7th: Rest Day 

June 8th: Walk to Keld 

June 9th: Walk to Hawes 

June 10th: Walk to Horton-in-Ribblesdale 

June 11th: Walk to Airton 

June 12th: Walk to Cowling 

June 13th: Walk to Hebden Bridge 

June 14th: Walk to Crowden 

June 15th: Walk to Edale 

June 16th: Walk to Buxton 

June 17th: Walk to Congleton

June 18th: Walk to Weston 

June 19th: Walk to Whitchurch 

June 20th: Walk to Ellesmere 

June 21st: Walk to Llanymynech 

June 22: Walk to Montgomery 

June 23: Walk to Knighton 

June 24: Walk to Gladestry 

June 25: Walk to Llanthony -

June 26: Walk to Monmouth 

June 27: Walk to Chepstow 

June 28: Walk to Bristol 

June 29: Rest Day 

June 30: Walk to Clevedon 

July 1: Walk to Burnham-on-Sea

July 2: Walk to Bridgwater 

July 3: Walk to Williton 

July 4: Walk to Simonsbath 

July 5: Walk to Barnstaple 

July 6: Walk to Elmscott 

July 7: Walk to Bude 

July 8: Walk to Tintagel 

July 9: Walk to Wadebridge 

July 10: Walk to Perranporth 

July 11: Walk to St Ives 

July 12: Walk to Land’s End 


 

My charity

Parkinson’s UK

Parkinson’s UK

Charity Registration No. 258197 and Scotland SC037554

Every hour, someone in the UK is told they have Parkinson’s. Because we’re here, no one has to face Parkinson’s alone. We bring people with Parkinson’s, their carers and families together via our network of local groups, our website and free confidential helpline. Specialist nurses, our supporters and staff provide information and training on every aspect of Parkinson’s. As the UK’s Parkinson’s support and research charity we’re leading the work to find a cure, and we’re closer than ever. We also campaign to change attitudes and demand better services. Our work is totally dependent on donations. Help us to find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson’s.

Donations 65

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Just read about this in the OB newsletter! What a fantastic thing to do. A huge well done!

Donation by Anonymous on 07/03/12

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

Donation by Anonymous on 30/12/11

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

soz it took soooo long, also gill teward and nathan guyll gave money through me,x

Donation by Alasdair Anderson on 14/09/11

£100.00

Donation by Elizabeth Eccleston on 09/09/11

Donation by Elizabeth Eccleston on 09/09/11

£26.00

+ £6.50 Gift Aid

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Absolutely fantastic achievement Matthew - we're so proud of you!

Donation by Elizabeth Eccleston on 25/08/11

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Well done Matt, fantastic achievement. Met you at the hostel in Drumnadrochit. Good luck for the future, you deserve it.

Donation by Tony Long. on 19/08/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Donation by Rebecca Gill on 17/07/11

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Donation by Matthew Watson on 16/07/11

£50.00

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Well done, Matthew. Hope the weather wasn't too bad for you after you left The Exmoor Forest Inn, Simonsbath. A great achievement!!

Donation by Kathleen (Kate) Thompson on 15/07/11

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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Well done Matthew - from Mike the other JoGLE walker

Donation by Michael Hann on 11/07/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Donation by Donald Preece on 10/07/11

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

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Good to meet you and hear about your endeavours at Simonsbath. Good luck for the rest of your walk and fundraising.

Donation by Brian and Kay Mahony on 07/07/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Donation by Mary Preece on 29/06/11

£10.00

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Donated by staff at Byrchall High School, Ashton-in Makerfield, Wigan

Donation by Anne Wilson on 09/06/11

£50.00

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A very worthy cause. Good luck Matthew! Lawrie (friend of Freda & Derek).

Donation by Lawrie on 09/06/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Well done Matthew - almost now out of a wet and windy Scotland. Good to have met you and very best wishes for the rest of your Walk.

Donation by David Tyson on 28/05/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Donation by Jean Milne on 23/05/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

Donation by Jacqueline Alderson on 20/05/11

£30.00

+ £7.50 Gift Aid

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You really are an inspiration Matthew. And I hear your brother is doing a walk in June too...the Berlin Pride March.

Donation by Phil Munro on 09/05/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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We used to go dancing with Cliff and Elsie - they were very good dancers and lovely people. They would be so proud of you. Standish Evening Class

Donation by Karen Hartley on 03/05/11

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Donation by David Farrell on 26/04/11

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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Good luck Matthew!

Donation by Richard and Gill Prescott on 24/04/11

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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we admire you immensely, good luck with the walk.

Donation by Mandy Hawkes on 18/04/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Good luck on the walk Matthew, rather you than me. See you in Buxton in June.

Donation by Rob & Lisa on 18/04/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

Donation summary

  • * Online donations£2,230.21
  • Offline donations£4,312.00
  • Text donations£0.00
  • Total raised£6,542.21
  • Gift Aid£454.47

* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.