Taking it in our stride – Newport Fundraisers on Home Stretch

It has taken 4 years, a lot of shoe leather, and encompassed nearly 870 miles of the stunning Wales Coastal Path, but now this plucky group of old school friends from Newport are nearing the end of their epic trek to raise £20,000 for charity. 

Taking The Long Walk Home is a small group of friends and families from a school in Newport, South Wales, who have been friends since the early 1970’s. They set themselves a challenge in 2021 to walk the 870 miles of the Wales Coast Path, and are tantalisingly close to their goal, with the trek finishing at the iconic Newport Transporter Bridge on Wednesday 27th August.

Over the last 4 years, they have raised over £11,000 for Prostate Cancer, Huntingtons Disease Association, MS Society, British Heart Foundation and Parkinsons UK, all charities close to their hearts.

He probably didn’t get the support and help that he needed so it is appropriate that we can now help raise funds for a charity like Mind in Gwent, a charity that would have helped him in his life.

This year they are fundraising for local mental health charity, Mind in Gwent, in memory of their friend Anne Wilson, who very sadly passed away recently.

Organiser, Simon Palmer said, “Our walking group all grew up in Newport, being friends from school about 58 years ago. We wanted to support a local Newport charity. One of our school friends from all those years ago, a very capable and intelligent lad, suffered with mental health issues. He probably didn’t get the support and help that he needed so it is appropriate that we can now help raise funds for a charity like Mind in Gwent, a charity that would have helped him in his life.” ”

Mike Walmsley, Head of Income Generation at Mind in Gwent said, “We are enormously grateful to everyone involved in Taking the Long Walk Home. Having a strong and supportive group of friends is so important for mental health and wellbeing. It’s fantastic that the group have made this the centrepiece of their fundraising efforts for mental health in their community. We wish them well with the last leg of their journey, and are willing them on to smash their overall fundraising goal of £20,000.”

There’s still time to support Taking the Long Walk Home on their JustGiving Page. Make your donation here and please remember to include Gift Aid if you are eligible.

Posted on: 25th August 2025