Neil's 60th Challenge

Neil walks from London to Cambridge for Romsey Mill

This April, Neil Thompson, Romsey Mill’s Fundraising and Communications Manager, took on a personal fundraising challenge to complete a continuous walk from London to Cambridge on his 60^th birthday.

To mark the occasion, Neil walked from Hammersmith in London, where he was born, to Romsey Mill Centre in Cambridge– a distance of more than 60 miles!  The two-day walk, which included an overnight walk, ended on Tuesday 15^th April, when Neil turned 60.

Listen below to Neil's interview with Cambridge Radio explaining why he was doing the walk. 

“In my time with Romsey Mill, I have seen the importance of 'being with' those who are facing adversity and dealing with disadvantage, as they overcome challenge in their lives.”

Why take on this challenge?

To explain why he is took on this particular challenge, Neil says: 

“For much of time with Romsey Mill, I have been creating opportunities for others to raise funds for Romsey Mill by undertaking physical challenges, such as our Yorkshire Three Peaks treks, or the Cambridge Half Marathon.

So, I thought that my 60^th birthday provided the ideal opportunity to put my own walking boots on and do something myself. 

When I was at a football game in London last year, I visited the place where I was born and found out that it was very near to being 60 miles from there to Romsey Mill. The germ of an idea was planted, and I began to plot a route.”

During the 60 mile challenge, Neil walked with various family members and friends, including one friend, Simon, who Neil has known for 30 years and who walked with him all the way from London to Cambridge. 

Neil says that being alongside others who believe in you and work with you to create something is really significant for him and the work of Romsey Mill:

“In my time with Romsey Mill, I have seen, at close hand, the importance of 'being with' those who are facing adversity and dealing with disadvantage, as they overcome challenge in their lives.  Co-creating and 'being with' is fundamental to the work of Romsey Mill.

I often say that I work with amazing people who are with amazing people.

The young people, children and families that our youth and family workers are with are inspiring. They show resilience, character and perserverance to overcome challenge.

Listen below to Neil's interview with Cambridge Radio, about how he was finding the walk, just before he started on the final leg of the walk, from Royston to Romsey Mill

In the end, Neil walked a total of 69 miles in completing the challenge. Over £7,500 was raised by people and businesses donating to Neil's 60 4 60 challenge.

Neil says:

I am really delighted to have completed particular personal challenge. But it was only ever going to succeed as a team effort. Not least my friend Simon, who walked every step of the challenge with me, and the support crew, particularly Peter and James, who were on hand with food, drinks and spare clothes, as well as ferrying family and friends who walked parts of the route alongside me.

I am so thankful for all of the support and encouragement I received, whether that was through sponsorship or donations, well-wishing, or people walking alongside me for one or more of the 69 miles between London and Cambridge."  

You can still donate:

If you would like to make a donation to Romsey Mill as part of Neil's challenge, you can make your donation here (external JustGiving page).