Chris Jones, an inspiring adventurer and dedicated Freemason, embarked on a remarkable journey on New Year’s Day, with a mission to walk 7,000 miles around the entire coastline of Great Britain. This challenging trip aims to raise £100,000 for charity to support mental health initiatives.
Mr. Jones’s epic 18-month challenge spans the picturesque landscapes of the British coastline. Along his path, he welcomes donations from generous supporters, either in person or through the sale of a book he intends to write about his transformative journey. Chris is currently making his way through West Lancashire, with the entire adventure expected to last approximately 18 months.
With over five million steps, equivalent to roughly 2,150 miles covered, Chris has already raised more than £27,000. A Freemason under the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) for over 12 years, Chris is determined and committed to make this fundraising endeavour one of the largest sums ever raised for the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) the Freemasons’ Charity, by an individual. The raised money will be donated to mental health institutions.
Chris has a unique guideline for his journey: “So long as I can feel the sea breeze in my right ear, I’ll know I’m on the right track.” As a loyal Freemason, Chris Jones attributes much of his strength and determination to the support he has received from his Freemason friends. However, his journey is not just about personal resilience; it’s about giving back to those who have helped him through his darkest hours.
During a period of mental health issues, Chris reached out to the MCF and their mental health helpline. Reflecting on this difficult moment, he stated, “I am convinced that MCF saved my life during my mental health crisis. I’m very open about my struggle with my mental health, and this is the main focus of this challenge. I have suffered for about 10 years, and the lowest points have cost me days and sometimes weeks of my life.”
Despite varying daily distances of 10-25 miles, depending on weather and terrain, Chris is carrying his home in a 30kg backpack, using his tent for 80-90% of his journey to minimise costs. His wife, Michelle, joins him periodically to provide support, and kind-hearted individuals occasionally offer him a bed for the night, especially when the weather takes an unfriendly turn. He has done minimal training. He kept himself reasonably fit by swimming, walking and using the gym around four times a week. Apart from a few short walks to check the fit of his kit, that’s it.
“I am keeping costs down by living in my tent and purchasing rations from shops as I travel but the cost so far has far exceeded what I expected. My main focus still remains for people to contribute to the fundraiser but if anyone would like to assist me personally with my daily costs then the ‘buy me a coffee’ link allows people to make a small contribution. This will help me enormously to buy food and book onto campsites to get a shower and wash my clothes. I would be very grateful.”
Les Hutchinson, Chief Executive of the Masonic Charitable Foundation, said: “All of us at MCF are hugely impressed with Chris’ magnificent accomplishments so far on his epic journey. Mental health is a key priority for us and I’m delighted that every penny Chris raises will be helping people to get the support they need. We wish him the very best of luck on the rest of his journey.”
Chris emphasises, “I’m encouraging others to join me for short sections of the walk, firstly to show off their part of our coastline, but more importantly, to talk to me about how they are beating their demons and controlling their mental health issues. This is about them and their battles, not me and mine, which I’m sure will have a mutual benefit.”
Planning his route daily using maps on his phone or iPad, Chris stays connected with his loved ones, who track his progress and share his excitement. His granddaughter, 10-year-old Ava, uses the trip as a live geography project, plotting his course in school with her classmates.
As he continues to walk the British coastline, he inspires many people to reach out for help when needed and to support those in their battles against mental health challenges.
How to help
- Donate to the MCF fundraiser. https://bit.ly/3Cg32Jo
- Help Chris personally by buying him a coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/rbn6r6n7478
- If you live on the coast and have a garden or small piece of grass he could pitch his tent on to prevent him having to find wild camping pitches. If there is a shower he could use that would be amazing. Most campsites will be closing at the end of October and won’t reopen until April 2024.
- Follow his progress on Social media and on his blog and spread the word: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1601784864
- Blog: www.walktheedgemcf.com
