The Mission

FROM EAST COAST TO WEST COAST

A Coast-to-Coast Charity Challenge Across England and Wales

Every Mile Has a Story

I will be walking from the East Coast of England at Southend-on-Sea to the West Coast of Wales at Scalds Rocks in Heverfordwest, covering approximately 375 miles entirely on foot.

The challenge has been created to raise awareness and support for charities and organisations working in the areas of:

Alcohol awareness and support

Men's mental health

Education through M7 Education

This is more than a long-distance walk. It is a multi-platform media project combining endurance, history, storytelling and fundraising to create meaningful awareness for important causes.

Charity Commitment

The purpose of this project is to raise awareness and generate support for the selected charities and organisations.

All public donations raised through fundraising campaigns associated with this challenge will go directly to the chosen charities.

Any donations received through YouTube fundraising features, livestreams or donation tools will also be directed entirely to the selected charities, with links provided in video descriptions and campaign materials.

Sponsorship funding received for the project will first be used solely to cover the genuine costs required to complete the challenge and produce the associated content.

These costs may include accommodation, food, equipment, and production costs. With a full predicted budget available.

Any sponsorship funds remaining after project expenses have been covered will be donated to the chosen charities.

The only personal income generated from this project will be advertising revenue paid directly by YouTube through its standard monetisation programme.

To ensure complete transparency, a breakdown of sponsorship income, project costs and charitable donations will be published following the completion of the challenge.

The Documentary

Following completion of the challenge, a professionally produced documentary will tell the full story of the journey.

The documentary will explore:

The physical and mental demands of the challenge.

The motivation behind undertaking the walk.

The realities of fundraising and awareness campaigns.

The people encountered along the route.

Interviews conducted after the challenge.

The history of the locations visited.

The impact created through fundraising and community support.

The History Challenge Series

To keep constant eyes on the fundraiser and to raise as much as possible I will also be doing.

Daily Content

Throughout the challenge, daily content will be published across:

YouTube Shorts

Instagram

TikTok

Content will include:

Distance covered.

Daily progress updates.

Walking statistics.

Step counts.

Calorie expenditure.

Recovery and fitness data.

Historical facts from locations along the route.

Charity awareness messages.

Fundraising updates.

Behind-the-scenes moments from the challenge.

Every mile has a story. Every view helps spread awareness. Every donation helps make a difference.

#EastCoast2WestCoast

Why I'm Doing This

I've always wanted to push myself beyond my comfort zone and see what I'm truly capable of. Throughout my life I've taken on challenges whenever I could, but I've never had the opportunity to commit to something as ambitious as walking 375 miles across England and Wales.

Having recently graduated from East 15 Acting School with a degree in Creative Producing, I've found myself at a unique point in life. For the first time, I have both the freedom and the opportunity to take on a challenge that I've dreamed about for years. Rather than letting that opportunity pass me by, I decided to use it to do something meaningful.

This journey is about much more than walking from one coast to another.

On 16th February 2024, my mum, Angie O'Brien, passed away due to liver failure caused by alcohol. During that same year, I also lost two other family members to alcohol-related illnesses. These losses happened during my first year of university and changed my life forever.

My mum was one of the most important people in my life. She supported me, believed in me, and encouraged me to pursue the things I was passionate about. Although she won't be physically with me on this journey, I feel that every mile I walk will be a way of carrying her memory forward. In many ways, this walk is for her. It's a way of honouring her life and ensuring that her name continues to be remembered through something positive.

The charities I've chosen all have a personal connection to my life.

Alcohol Awareness

After losing my mum and other family members, I became far more aware of the impact alcohol can have on individuals, families, and communities.

I don't believe the answer is simply telling people not to drink. Instead, I believe we need better education, better support, and a greater understanding of the risks that alcohol can present when it becomes a dependency.

There are so many positive ways to spend our time, improve our wellbeing, and connect with others. If this challenge can encourage even a few people to think differently about alcohol, seek support, or start a conversation, then every mile will have been worth it.

Men's Mental Health

Like many men, I've spent years battling my own thoughts and emotions, sometimes successfully and sometimes not.

One thing I've learned is that too many men still feel they have to struggle in silence. Many grow up believing they should keep everything to themselves, and some never learn healthy ways to deal with stress, anxiety, grief, or frustration.

I want to help raise awareness that support exists and that asking for help is not a weakness. There are incredible organisations and role models working every day to support men's mental health, even if they don't always receive the attention they deserve.

If this challenge encourages someone to open up, reach out, or seek support, then that alone would make it worthwhile.

M7 Education

As a child, I didn't have many opportunities to travel or take part in educational trips. My parents did everything they could for me, but like many families, money was often tight and some opportunities simply weren't available.

The one school residential trip I did attend, to the Isle of Wight, remains one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I was only in Year 6, yet nearly twenty years later I can still remember moments from that trip vividly.

What stayed with me wasn't just the fun. It was the confidence it gave me. It taught me independence, teamwork, communication, and how to step outside my comfort zone. Those experiences help shape young people in ways that can last a lifetime.

That's why I believe organisations like M7 Education are so important. Every child deserves the opportunity to build confidence, learn new skills, and create memories that stay with them for years to come.

Final Statement

This challenge is about testing my limits, honouring my mum's memory, supporting causes that matter deeply to me, and hopefully inspiring others along the way.

It’s about more than reaching the finish line. It's about proving what's possible when purpose meets determination, sharing stories that matter, and hopefully inspiring others to support causes that can genuinely change lives.

Every mile has a story. This is mine.

Donation Thank you.

If you'd like to support the journey, whether through a donation or simply by following along, thank you. Every contribution helps these charities continue their vital work and reminds me that none of us have to face life's challenges alone.

This journey may begin with one person taking the first step, but every donation, message of support, and shared story becomes part of the miles ahead. Thank you for walking this journey with me.

Every mile has a story. Every donation can make a difference.