Last year, we (Bruce and Martin — father and son) took on part of the South West Coast Path, walking from Par to Bigbury-on-Sea. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our friends and family, we raised nearly £2,000 for a small but impactful charity called W.O.R.K. – Widows & Orphans in Rural Kenya.

When we got together at Christmas, we both agreed it was time for another challenge — and we’ve set our sights on something even bigger.

Between 19 and 24 June 2025, we’ll be walking the South Downs Way, a 100-mile National Trail stretching from Winchester to Eastbourne. We’ll be averaging more than 16 miles a day — a solid challenge (with plenty of hills!), but we’re both out training: Martin in Sussex and Bruce navigating the ups and downs of South Devon.

Why We’re Walking

Once again, we’re walking for W.O.R.K., a charity very close to our hearts. It was founded by a family friend, Lady Mary Jane Butler, and supports vulnerable widows and orphans in rural Kenya. Bruce and his wife Alison have been involved with the charity for many years, and can personally vouch that almost every penny donated goes directly to those in need.

This year, we’ve set an ambitious fundraising goal of £5,000 — and we’re aiming to meet a very specific, urgent need.

The Goal: A Baby Incubator

We recently spoke to Mary Jane, who told us they’re in desperate need of a baby incubator. Many premature or vulnerable newborns don’t survive because mothers can’t afford to reach a hospital. A basic incubator costs around £3,000–£4,000, and a sterile room to house it brings the total to around £5,000.

Here’s what she said:

“We have a fairly urgent need of a baby incubator. We have a lot of maternal deliveries and some fairly small, weak babies....if we refer to a big hospital for an incubator the mum's often have no money so take the baby home, where they can sometimes just die.”

How You Can Help

We’d be so grateful for your support — whether that’s through a donation, sharing our fundraiser, or simply encouraging us along the way. Every pound brings us closer to providing a life-saving incubator for babies who desperately need it.

You can learn more about the amazing work of the charity at https://www.work-kenya.org, and about the route we’re walking at https://southdownsway.org.

Thank you so much for being part of this with us.

Bruce & Martin