Thank you so much for taking the time and interest to visit this page.

I am walking 1,000 miles for Lily Mae Foundation and mapping each walk.

Please help me raise money for the wonderful Lily Mae Foundation, a registered charity that helps bereaved parents and families who have lost a baby to Stillbirth, Neonatal Death, Miscarriage or Medical Termination.

My challenge

Every week during 2026, I am talking a walk of between 25k and 40k. Some may be even longer. In total, these 52 walks will take me along 1,000+ miles of canal towpaths, rivers and through towns and cities across the Heart of England.

Why am I doing this?

My wife Deb and some of her colleagues at the nursery she works at in Birmingham have experienced the loss of a child themselves. The way they have faced such a tragedy has inspired me to do something in my own small way in support of the incredible work carried out by the Lily Mae Foundation.

Should you feel able to support me in this challenge, whether it’s £1 for each walk I complete or a single donation, I know the Lily Mae Foundation will be extremely grateful.

Mapping and recording every walk

In addition to completing the walks, I aim to produce a digital record of some of the highlights, so that others can enjoy our magnificent Heart of England and the wonderful culture it serves up.

January 2026:

Walk 1: Birmingham to Stoke Prior (Worcestershire). 32k. Completed Saturday 3rd Jan 2026.

https://x.com/bostockjonpaul/status/2007790743851548851?s=20

Walk 2: Birmingham to Lily Mae offices (Balsall Common). 25k. Completed Thursday 8th Jan 2026.

Walk 3: Birmingham to Shenstone (nr Lichfield). 25k. Completed Wednesday 14th Jan 2026.

https://x.com/BirminghamWeAre/status/2011424508494618712?s=20

Walk 4: Birmingham to Wolverhampton. 26k. Completed Thursday 22nd Jan 2026.

https://x.com/BirminghamWeAre/status/2014650594665902277?s=20

Walk 5: Stratford-upon-Avon to Shirley (Birmingham). 40k. Completed Thursday 29th Jan 2026.

https://x.com/BirminghamWeAre/status/2016792881281831209?s=20

February 2026:

Walk 6: Lichfield to Birmingham. 42k Completed Thursday 5th Feb 2026.

https://x.com/BirminghamWeAre/status/2019775614887047237?s=20

Walk 7: Walsall to Birmingham. 26k Completed Thursday 12th Feb 2026.

Walk 8: Warwick to Birmingham. 39k Completed Thursday 19th Feb 2026.

Walk 9: Bromsgrove to Birmingham. 35k Completed Thursday 26th Feb 2026.

Walk 10: Recovery walk around Birmingham. 20k Completed Sunday 15th Mar 2026.

Off ill with water infection.

Walk 11: Birmingham to Droitwich Spa. 36.6k Completed Thursday 19th Mar 2026.

Walk 12: Birmingham to Lichfield. 40.0k Completed Thursday 26th Mar 2026.

Walk 13: Birmingham to Stourbridge. 35.5k Completed Thursday 2nd April 2026.

Walk 14: Circular walk (Tame Valley canal). 33.2k Completed Thursday 9th April 2026.

Walk 15: Birmingham to Warwick. 41.7k Completed Thursday 16th April 2026.

Walk 16: Birmingham to Wolverhampton. 27k. Completed 23rd April 2026.

Summary to date:

15 walks completed to date. 524k walked so far (326 miles).

Only 37 walks to go!