As part of our spotlight series celebrating inspirational young people across the Scouting family, we caught up with George.
After losing his uncle and aunt to cancer, and seeing his mum fight her own battle, George chose to walk 50 miles in six weeks to raise £150 for a cancer charity. His mum shared his journey on social media and a video of him went viral, with donations and messages of support pouring in.
George smashed his goal, walking 70 miles through wind and rain in Pembrokeshire and raising an incredible £3,300. So, we wanted to catch-up and see how it was for George!
Hi George! 👋
What inspired you to take on this challenge?
I wanted to do something for Cancer Research to honour my Uncle Matt. He died of Cancer a few months before I started my walk.
Can you describe what it was like on day 1? Were you excited or a bit nervous because 50 miles is a long way!
I was really excited to start my challenge as it meant a lot to me.
What was the hardest part of the challenge, and how did you keep going?
The hardest part was the weather. I did quite a few walks in the pouring rain and one night we did a walk by the estuary and got stuck in mud – it went over my wellies! It also got dark really quickly and we had to scramble up a slippy embankment to get out of the mud.
Did you have a favourite part of the walk, or a moment that made you smile?
One of my favourite walks was the longest walk (just over 9 miles) I did from Haverfordwest to Neyland Marina. It was funny as I got every kind of weather on the walk; wind, rain, hail and sunshine
How did it feel when your video went viral and so many people started cheering you on?
I was really surprised and extremely happy that people were donating money.
Who walked with you, and how important was that support along the way?
Most of my walks were me and my Mum. She also had cancer, but the doctors made her better. My Dad and brother did a lot of walks with me too. Some of my school friends and Cubs friends also did a big 6 mile walk with me around a local reservoir. It was nice having my friends and family support me and walk with me.
How did it feel to go beyond your target and finish 70 miles?
Because people had donated so much, I decided to carry on and walk more miles.
What did you think when you saw the total amount you’d raised?
At the beginning I wanted to raise £150, so i was speechless when I saw what the final amount was.
Do you plan to keep walking and fundraising in the future?
Yes, I would really like to do another fundraising walk in the future. I really enjoyed the challenge as I like walking and being out in nature. I would like to raise money for my local hospital next.
What was your favourite snack to keep you going on your walks?
Sometimes after school we would walk past a coffee shop to get a hot chocolate and biscuit to have on the walk. I always took treats on every walk!!!
Did you have a go-to song or playlist for motivation?
I didn’t listen to music on my walks, I liked talking to who I was walking with.
If you could walk anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I’d like to walk in Lapland as I love forests and snow. I could pop into Santa’s workshop too!
What message would you like to share with others who might be inspired by your journey?
Walking is free to do so just get out there and enjoy it. Choose a charity that’s important to you and your family.
If people would still like to donate, how can they do that?
My just giving page is now closed, but if people want to donate, please send it to Cancer Research.
“1st Haverfordwest Scout Group has come a long way since it first formed back in February 1928, now proudly welcoming 115 young people each week with more waiting to join. From our partnership with Carreg Ddraig Explorers to the opening of our Squirrel Dray in 2024, our success is only possible thanks to our brilliant leaders and supportive parents. We’re a friendly, slightly mad bunch who share the load, look out for one another, and make Scouting a safe, inclusive and inspiring space for every young person. A special shout out to all our leaders – you really are the heartbeat of our group.
We’d love to give more young people like George the chance to join, especially at Squirrels and Beavers, but to do that we need more adults to step forward. If you can spare a little time, come and be part of the adventure with us!
And you will get to meet George – he is a star, such a polite and kind young man and we are very proud of him.”
