Fundraiser Supported By Tony Christie, Sian Reeves And The Proclaimers During Charity Walk From Land’s End To John O’Groats
Walking 900 miles in 90 days from Land’s End to John O’Groats for charity is not an easy feat, but morale boosting support from singing legend Tony Christie and Emmerdale actress Sian Reeves has given Harriet Thomas (61) a much-welcomed spring in her step.
Twin brothers, Charlie and Craig Reid, better known as The Proclaimers, have also given encouragement to Harriet with a well-timed video message before she reaches Scotland on September 24.
Inspired by her mum Susan Thomas, who lived with dementia for nine years, Harriet is hoping to raise £25,000 for charity Dementia Adventure, which supports people to get outdoors, experience the benefits of nature and reduce isolation. Harriet is delighted that she’s over halfway through her trek, and has reached the half-way point of her fundraising, with £13,582 already donated.
In Shropshire, Harriet met with actress Sian Reeves, best known for her roles in Emmerdale and drama Cutting It, when they joined a sing-along at a care home.
Reeves began virtually singing with care home residents during lockdown, and since then has promoted it as a form of therapy for people with Alzheimer’s.
Actress Sian Reeves said: “Harriet is a wonderful force and brilliant woman – I am proud to have met her and just amazed at her wonderful energy and passion about walking and nature – she deserves a medal for this walk – well done Harriet it was so nice to meet up with you at Much Wenlock.”
Further along in Staffordshire, Tony Christie – who was diagnosed with dementia in January 2023 – walked a mile with Harriet around Lichfield Cathedral before inviting her into his home to rest and refuel.
Tony said: “Harriet is doing a great job. I couldn’t do it. I’ve got a bad knee – that’s my excuse anyway! It was a privilege to hobble along with her and talk to her about her mum Susan and this amazing challenge she’s doing in her memory.”
Harriet’s journey is being documented in a new podcast ‘The D Tour’ which captures the serendipity of her day-to-day experiences and delves into themes exploring dementia. The D Tour has achieved over 1,100 streams so far, helped by a partnership with m4dRadio.com, a dementia friendly radio station.
Harriet says: “I’m 61 years old now and believe you’re never too old to have an adventure. When mum died, I was untethered for a while, so I decided to explore the world on foot, staring in the UK. Every step of this walk is meaningful as it represents the 900,000 people in the UK living with dementia.
“When she had dementia, mum was calmer in nature. It’s a sensory place. The temperature of the air, the breeze in her hair and on her face, the scents, the colour of flowers all seemed to light her up. She may have said nothing all day but when we were smelling a rosemary plant or listening to a bird, she would say ‘lovely’ or ‘beautiful’. It was as if nature touched the deepest part of her that dementia couldn’t reach and I’m walking for Dementia Adventure so other families might get the chance to have similar experiences.”
“Harriet’s journey embodies the spirit of Dementia Adventure—resilience, community, and the transformative power of nature. We encourage everyone to support Harriet, listen to the podcast, and join us in making a real difference,” said Fiona Petit, CEO of Dementia Adventure.