We’re sending a HUGE congratulations to Derby Kids’ Camp volunteer – Kevin Dowson – who, over the lockdown period raised in excess of £9,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and Kids’ Camp by walking from Land’s End to John o’Groats!

Planned before the pandemic to mark his 60th birthday, Kevin (pictured above with son and former DKC Camp Leader Liam) had originally intended to complete the mammoth 10,47 mile walk in just 60 days! However, as Covid restrictions came into place, Kevin altered his plans by making it a ‘challenge of two halves’!

The charity trek had to be put on hold in 2020 when the national lockdown was imposed, but with restrictions easing in 2021, Kevin put on his walking shoes in May to begin the challenge!

Before starting the challenge, Kevin said: “We had a year when we just couldn’t do the walk, although I did think about doing it in September, but because it takes two months there would have been pretty bad weather.

“I now aim to complete the walk in my 60th year ending on August 8 and we’ve had to make some changes to the way I’ll walk because of the different dates in Scotland and England for restrictions easing.”

The biggest change he had to make to the challenge was splitting it into two legs.

He added: “Instead of doing the walk in one go, I had to complete it in two parts. I started at Land’s End and headed back to Derby to accommodate my Covid jabs. Then travelled to John o’Groats and walked all the way back to Derby again!”

A massive ‘thank you’ to Kevin and all his sponsors for all the incredible support and generosity to Derby Kids’ Camp; your donations will go a long way to help hundreds of deserving, local young children this year, who will join us for a holiday they will never forget.

Take a look at Kevin’s adventure in the gallery below! 👇