127 Miles of Hope: Walking from Pimlico to Glastonbury
We are excited to share our biggest fundraising initiatives yet, forming part of the wider Need 4 Speed campaign. This May, a small team from the Dr Hickey Surgery community will walk 127 miles from Pimlico to Glastonbury to raise awareness and support for our long-term vision: the creation of the Mary Hickey Foundation.
Our Journey
On Monday 25th May, our group will leave from The Dr Hickey Surgery and begin a seven-day walk, covering up to 18 miles a day. We will be carrying our own equipment, camping along the route, and making our way through towns, villages, and countryside. We will arrive at Paddington Farm Trust to meet the rest of the group as they begin the first of four respite breaks this year.
This challenge is not only a test of endurance—it is a powerful statement of hope and commitment.
Why We’re Walking: Sowing the Seeds of Hope, Healing, and Home
This challenge supports our ambition to establish the Mary Hickey Foundation, a trauma-informed, drug-free transitional housing community in Kent. We are seeking an initial £2 million charitable investment to bring this vision to life.
Our project—aims to provide safe, dignified housing and structured support for up to 10 homeless individuals who are committed to rebuilding their lives.
Housing Model
• 2 ‘Homes for Life’ offering permanent accommodation and peer mentorship.
• 7 transitional units for residents staying up to 18 months.
• 1 dedicated palliative/end of life home, ensuring dignity and compassion for individuals facing terminal illness.
We will also offer places to people who have completed detox or residential rehab, providing them with a stable, drug-free environment where they can continue their recovery and safeguard the progress they have already made.
The community will include:
• A resident-run social café and garden centre
• Food sustainability initiatives, including allotments and small livestock
• A zero-tolerance substance-free policy, supported through peer mentorship
This is a model built not just to house people, but to support true healing, stability, and independence.
Why This Matters
After 22 years working at the Dr Hickey Surgery, we have witnessed the devastating effects of delayed support. Too many people become entrenched in homelessness—caught in cycles of addiction, trauma, and institutionalisation—because they were not offered help early enough.
Our project aims to intervene earlier, offering a structured, compassionate environment where people can begin their recovery before the cycle takes hold.
We believe this model will:
• Reduce reoffending
• Decrease emergency service use and A&E attendances
• Lower antisocial behaviour
• Improve physical and mental health outcomes
• Increase opportunities for training, employment, and community integration
How You Can Help
Our 127-mile walk is one of many initiatives under the Need 4 Speed campaign. Each step we take brings us closer to building a community rooted in dignity, healing, and hope.
Thank you for supporting us—whether by donating, sharing our story, or cheering us on. Together, we are walking towards a future where everyone has the chance to recover, rebuild, and belong.
One step, one mile, one life at a time.
September 2025
My name is Tanya, and I want to start with the first real-life story.
Let me introduce you to Tony, a patient of the Dr Hickey Surgery, who is on a remarkable journey — not just across the country, but out of addiction and into purpose. After years battling heroin and crack addiction, Tony is now clean, full of imagination, and ready to give back. He’s taking on a solo bike ride from London to Liverpool — the city where he was born, raised, and schooled — sharing his story along the way.
This isn’t about ego or glory. It’s about hope.
Why This Matters
This is about more than one man on a bike.
It’s about a community rising.
It’s about our people — those who’ve lived through addiction, homelessness, and hardship — standing up, speaking out, and giving back.
Tony's ride is just the beginning.
From poetry to pedal power, from recovery to resilience, our patients are stepping forward to raise funds, raise awareness, and raise each other.
This is the first of many remarkable journeys.
Together, we’re making it happen.
Tony's ride is a symbol of what’s possible when someone is given a second chance. But it’s also a call to action for others who want to leave behind a legacy of hope, determination, and change.
Let’s support our people in reaching their goals — not just for themselves, but for the community they care about. Because when someone who's been through it all chooses to give back, that’s a legacy worth building.
As well as raising money to launch The Mary Hickey Foundation, Tony dreams of learning to paraglide — and we’d love to see him soaring through the Moroccan landscape, achieving his personal goal.
The Vision: The Mary Hickey Foundation
Tony is raising funds to help launch the Mary Hickey Foundation, a new initiative seeking £2 million to build a trauma-informed, drug-free transitional housing community for homeless individuals. The project will offer clean, safe homes, mentorship, and dignity — rooted in the values of healing and community.
This is the first of many fundraisers to help establish the Mary Hickey Foundation. Your support will help sow the seeds of hope, healing, and home for those who need it most.
Join the Journey
Tony welcomes anyone who wants to walk, cycle, or talk with him along the way. Got something on your chest? Lay it bare. It’s always good to talk and share.
How You Can Help
Donate: Every pound brings us closer to building a community where people can recover, rebuild, and thrive.
Share: If you can’t donate right now, please share Tony's story and talk about what we’re working to achieve.
Encourage: Let’s inspire others to get up, have a say, and give something back.
It’s not always about the money — it’s about sharing, compassion, and connection.
This campaign isn’t just about raising money — it’s about building a movement.
We’re looking for individuals with expertise who want to help shape the future of the Mary Hickey Foundation.
If you have experience in any of the following areas, we’d love to hear from you:
Housing & Architecture
Urban Planning & Policy
Fundraising & Philanthropy
Legal & Governance
Healthcare & Recovery Services
Community Development
Communications & Media
Finance & Operations
Whether you're a professional, a retiree, a student, or someone with lived experience — your skills and insight could help us change lives.
Thank You
Thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting. Together, we can help Tony and many of our other patients — leave a legacy of hope and determination that truly pays.
Organizer
