The 20,000 Mile Challenge – Stage 9

The Road to 15,000 Miles

Next target: 15,000 miles

Harrock Hill – 13 February 2027

Supporting Pennine & Bowland Mountain Rescue Team

Stage 9 brings the challenge home.

Having passed the 14,000-mile mark, the next 1,000 miles will support Pennine & Bowland Mountain Rescue Team, the team covering my local area.

I aim to reach 15,000 miles on 13 February 2027, finishing Stage 9 on the summit of Harrock Hill.

This stage will also be in memory of people from this area who are sadly no longer with us.

How did we get to 15,000 miles?

On 12 April 2025, I stood on the summit of Ben Nevis having completed the original 10,000 Mile Challenge, almost five years after taking the first steps.

Along the way, we had raised more than £40,000 for UK Mountain Rescue teams.

So, foolish or inspiring – depending on who you ask – I decided to keep walking.

Another 10,000 miles.

And that became the 20,000 Mile Challenge.

We have now completed Stage 8, passing 14,000 miles in support of Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team, with an ascent of Haystacks marking the milestone.

Now the road to 15,000 begins.

Where it all started

The story goes back to 2020.

The Trail Walking Club, which I lead, has now raised more than £45,000 for Mountain Rescue teams across England, Wales and Scotland through charity walks, mountain challenges and martial arts seminars.

In 2020, COVID restrictions meant our planned fundraising event couldn't take place. At the same time, I had lost both my mum and dad, just 70 days apart, in late 2019 and early 2020.

I wanted to do something positive.

So I decided to walk every day until I reached 1,000 miles, raising money for Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team, with the intention of finishing by climbing Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain.

I completed those first 1,000 miles on Christmas Day 2020. COVID restrictions prevented us finishing on Scafell Pike as planned.

So I carried on.

And somehow, we just kept going.

The journey so far

2,000 miles – 18 September 2021

Scafell Pike – Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team

4,000 miles – 24 September 2022

Helvellyn – Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team

5,000 miles – 15 April 2023

Cairngorm – supporting Skye Mountain Rescue Team

6,000 miles – 7 October 2023

Snowdon / Yr Wyddfa – supporting Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team

8,000 miles – 21 September 2024

Scafell via the West Wall – supporting Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team

10,000 miles – 12 April 2025

Ben Nevis – completing the original 10,000 Mile Challenge in support of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team

The second half of the journey began on 11 January 2026, supporting Glossop Mountain Rescue Team with an ascent of Black Crag.

Then came 14,000 miles, supporting Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team, with Haystacks marking Stage 8.

And now, 15,000 is in sight.

The road ahead

15,000 miles – Stage 9

Pennine & Bowland Mountain Rescue Team

Harrock Hill – 13 February 2027

16,000 miles – Stage 10

East Cornwall Mountain Rescue Team

Brown Willy – the highest point in Cornwall

18,000 miles – Stage 12

Brecon Mountain Rescue Team

Pen y Fan / The Fan Dance

20,000 miles – Stage 13

Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team

Ben Macdui – the second-highest mountain in the UK

And even 20,000 miles may not be the finish line.

The ultimate target is 24,901 miles – approximately the circumference of the Earth around the Equator.

The final stages taking the journey through 22,000 miles and ultimately 24,901 miles are still to be decided.

What started during lockdown as a personal challenge in memory of my mum and dad has become something much bigger.

Every mile has a purpose.

Every stage supports the volunteers who head out when others are in trouble.

And every stage remembers friends and loved ones we have lost along the way.

Next stop: Harrock Hill.

15,000 miles.

13 February 2027.

Pennine & Bowland Mountain Rescue Team.

One Journey. One Purpose. For The Light.