Giant Walk Hale to Hale • Sunday 10 May 2026
Sunday’s Giant Walk from Hale to Hale felt special from the very beginning.
The weather could not have been more perfect for endurance walking. Cool enough to keep moving comfortably, but bright and clear enough to enjoy every mile. The early morning start brought a gentle breeze across the estuary and, as always, the atmosphere on the support coach set the tone for the day ahead.
One of the nicest parts of Giant Walk events is that strangers rarely stay strangers for very long. The Christie Mascot being aided onto the bus broke the ice!
Before we had even reached the start line, conversations were flowing, friendships were forming and that familiar Giant Walk spirit was already building. People arrived nervous, excited or uncertain, but within minutes were encouraging each other like old friends.
For the leadership team, the day also marked an important operational step forward. Our new QR code scanning system was introduced for the first time, allowing us to monitor walker movements and checkpoints far more effectively throughout the route. It gave everybody confidence and helped the team stay relaxed and focused on supporting the walkers rather than chasing paperwork and new mentors Gavin and Chris settled in perfectly.
During the safety briefing, inspiration came from the story of John Middleton.
Usually, the morning briefing focuses heavily on welfare and route safety. This year, however, walkers were told something slightly different: that by the end of the day they would all become “Giants” themselves, not physically, but metaphorically. The challenge ahead would test people in different ways and completing it would change how many viewed themselves.
As it turned out, that message stayed with people all day long.
By lunchtime, record numbers of half marathon walkers had joined the route, taking the overall group to around 80 walkers. A few foot repairs and welfare adjustments were needed at feeding points as numbers increased, but the team adapted quickly and the atmosphere only grew stronger.
One of the most encouraging parts of the day was seeing the fundraising momentum building live throughout the event. Walkers shared photos, videos and updates across social media as their marathon unfolded, helping charities reach wider audiences in real time and encouraging further donations while people were still out on the route.
The finish in Hale provided a perfect ending.
Walkers were greeted by supporters, a well known local resident and charity teams waiting to celebrate them home. The Christie Charity in particular made a huge effort to welcome and reward their walkers at the finish line.
Then came a moment nobody expected.
Under the Hale clock, immediately after completing the walk, one participant proposed marriage.
It was one of those completely unplanned moments that captured everything the day had become about: community, emotion, achievement and shared experience.
Since Sunday, the event WhatsApp group has barely stopped buzzing. What has been especially lovely is that the term “Giants” has appeared completely organically among participants themselves.
People are no longer simply referring to themselves as walkers.
They are calling themselves Giants.
So from this point onwards, that is exactly what they will be.
Finally, thank you to everybody who has supported Giant Walk over the last two years. Thanks to our walkers, charities, volunteers and supporters, the Giant Walk fundraising total has now passed £100,000 in just over two years.
We can not run these events without our mentors and professional leaders. If you have been on a Giant Walk you will know that you are not marshalled along a course but accompanied by experts.
An extraordinary achievement built one step at a time.
