This September, I’ll be taking on a 100km ultra walk, and this time, it’s personal.

In 2024, I attempted the 100km challenge and made it to 50km before having to stop. I was proud of what I’d achieved, but I knew I wasn’t finished. So, this year, I’m going back. Same distance. Same determination. This one is my redemption mission.

I’m walking to raise money for The Chatty Café Scheme, a charity that’s very close to my heart. I’m not just a supporter, I’m a volunteer. Each week, I host a Chatter & Natter table, creating a welcoming space where anyone can sit down, have a cuppa, and enjoy a conversation. I also make weekly phone befriending calls, offering a friendly voice to someone who might otherwise go days without speaking to another person.

Loneliness doesn’t always look how we expect. It can affect people of any age or background, and it often hides in plain sight. The Chatty Café Scheme exists to gently break that isolation by creating opportunities for real, human connection, no pressure, no labels, just people chatting.

While the charity receives funding through grants and organisations such as government schemes and Lottery Grants, this funding is never guaranteed. To continue training volunteers, supporting phone befriending services, and keeping community cafés running, fundraising like this is essential.

I truly believe that the best people to help lonely people in a community are the community itself. So yes, walking 100km may be a bit daft, but every step supports conversations that matter.

Thank you for reading, donating, or sharing. Every bit helps keep the chats going.