𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐫 - 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐋𝐨𝐮

Where do I start?

To some I might be familiar, having completed a couple of big charity 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘴, links can be found a little later. But just in case you don’t know me or need a reminder; here’s some more about me 😃

Check out Operation: Bearded Wanderer

For a huge part of my adult life I have sat behind a desk, meaning that by my mid 40s I was definitely a bit 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘺! The only time outside being 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘢𝘥 and supporting my kids on various touchlines. In 2019 I managed to get up from behind the desk and find the time to embraced those 10,000 steps per day for the month of March for 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐔𝐊's Walk all over Cancer. In fact I was so taken with it that I completed it again the following year, twice, the second one with Covid restrictions.

When I was placed on 𝐹𝑢𝑟𝑙𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ in October 2020 I needed something to occupy my time (and mind), it wasn’t the sunny times that most had been lucky to have in the earlier bout of 𝐹𝑢𝑟𝑙𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ! I looked at DIY and cake baking but walking helped my mind and of course was starting to help fitness wise. By the time December rolled around the walking had ramped up from around 5 miles a day to a regular 10-15 miles and where restrictions allowed, visits to some local beauty spots. But December had another walking challenge in store, 𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝐸𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠 – this saw myself and three friends hit the local streets dressed as 𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝐸𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠 spreading good cheer, just a socially distanced smile and a wave but that snowballed too! Most people expected us to be collecting, so in the end with the generosity of the local community we raised money and donated it to very apt Charity for both walking and state of mind – 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 (𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬). Of course there is also the benefit of in the that couple of years I also lost around 3 stone!

As I went into 2021 I was no longer on 𝐹𝑢𝑟𝑙𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ and the world attempted to kick back in, with time taken back up by my children's football etc. However, I still tried to carry on walking, which lead me to my next challenge, the original 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐫 where I walked from 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑘𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙. See the Link below: Operation: Bearded Wanderer - Kidsgrove to Looe 2021

In 2023 whilst rapidly heading towards 50, I challenged myself again, with another LONG walk, this time for a Football related charity because it's a huge part of my kids (and my) life. This challenge saw me leave 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑘𝑒 𝐶𝑖𝑡𝑦'𝑠 home ground of the 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝟑𝟔𝟓 during their last home game, arriving at 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 for Stoke's last game of the season with 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑑 10 days later: Operation: Bearded Wanderer - Stoke to Watford 2023

Just to complicate matters, I’m a 𝑍𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑎, in that I suffer from 𝐸ℎ𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝐷𝑎𝑛𝑙𝑜𝑠 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑒. Where, as my variant isn’t too bad (Classical Ehlers Danlos), meaning mainly unsightly lumps on my elbows and knees, ‘𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑐ℎ𝑦 𝑠𝑘𝑖𝑛’ and quite relaxed joints. From a walking perspective this can give me stiffness and inflammation in my ankles and Achilles so even without these 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘴, some days walking full stop can be painful! This is outlined by an X-Factor type 'sob story' video on the initial 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐫 Challenge, where I suffered knee problems - Feel free to look it up on my Instagram!

Now at the ripe old age of 50 and being back to nearly as portly, it's time to challenge myself again..... where is this next 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘱.......

The Macari Foundation

In 2016, a news bulletin about homelessness drove Lou Macari out of his house and on to the streets of Stoke-on-Trent to find out what life was like for someone who was homeless.

Having seen the level of need in his adopted city, Lou decided to do everything he could to help those who find themselves homeless, work towards better lives.

From humble beginnings, the Macari Centre (Victoria) in Stoke-on-Trent, now provides support and accommodation in self-contained apartments.

The service users we support are referred to as ‘guests’, which defines the relationship we wish to achieve. Our guests have access to support from our team of trained staff, 24 hours a day.

We firmly believe that our guests are capable of change and will achieve their full potential when offered a secure, supportive, empowering and non-judgmental environment.

It is our mission to provide such an environment and help reverse the spiral of homelessness.

The Macari Foundation

The Davies Foundation

The Davies Foundation is the charitable branch of Davies Group where we support our communities across the business and give back to the charities that matter the most to our teams.

Since our inception in 2019, The Davies Foundation has worked closely with nearly 450 charities and community organisations of all different types, including environmental and animal care, food insecurity prevention and poverty relief, medical aid, educational support and community assistance programs. We have proudly donated over £40,000 to 86 charities in the last 12 months, and altogether £350,000 to non-profits that are closest to the hearts of our team members by focusing on local, small and grass-roots organisations.

Whether it’s through our annual grant cycle, company-wide fundraising events, or employee led activities, The Davies Foundation continues to grow our impact and we are looking forward to supporting even more incredible work in all of our communities

The Davies Foundation

The Walk

This 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘱 has got to reflect Lou, obviously for me he’s the former Stoke City Manager 🔴⚪️ but of course he has been so much more!

It's a loooooong one this time, the whole route will push 300 miles in 2 weeks! I plan to start off in Glasgow at Celtic where Lou started his playing career on 29ᵗʰ June 2025, then head south to Manchester and Old Trafford for 11ᵗʰ July 2025 where Lou played for Manchester United and also has his famous chippy. Ending the 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘱 at Macari Centre on the 13ᵗʰ July 2025, just a stone's throw away from where the Victoria Ground was, where Lou managed Stoke City.

Please spend some time to help me raise much needed funds for these community based charities or could you help me along the way, somewhere between Glasgow and Stoke..... Or perhaps, if you’re feeling up for it, then feel free to join me for a little while – it’s only around 300 miles in a couple of weeks!!!

Social Media

Please feel free to follow me across social media platforms

Operation: Bearded Wanderer on Facebook

Operation: Bearded Wanderer on Instagram

Operation: Bearded Wanderer on Threads

Operation: Bearded Wanderer on X

The Route

Nothing is set in stone for this 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘱 as yet but as mentioned, I’m looking to start at Celtic, arriving near the old home of Stoke City via Manchester United. Perhaps calling in a few special places along the way too 😉

A link to the route will appear here soon

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