Soul to Sole: Katherine Walks in Solidarity with Refugees
The Challenge
This year, Dr Katherine Cox, Trauma Foundation South West's Director of Services, set out to walk 1,280 miles, covering large parts of the UK, to raise £5,000 for free, long-term therapy for refugees and people seeking asylum.
Splitting the journey into six legs, she has been walking approximately 20 miles a day, putting the soul of our work into the soles of her shoes.
Seeking safety from war, displacement and persecution is not just a physical journey; it takes an emotional and spiritual toll too. Katherine has been sharing the stories from those she meets along the way, finding inspiration, hope and tales of healing.
Join us for the Welcome Party
To celebrate the completion of the challenge, we will be joining Katherine as she crosses the finish line in Bristol. We will be meeting at the Suspension Bridge for an amazing photo op, before walking the final miles together down into the city centre, a roughly 35 minute walk, downhill, where we will have a chance to gather at the Watershed, with a table reserved for coffee, lunch, or just dropping by to say hello.
Sunday 8 November, 12pm. Can't make the start? Join us at the Watershed from 12.45pm onwards.
“I can’t begin to thank you all for your support for Soul to Sole - the donations, help with transport / accommodation and encouraging words have been amazing and have really, really helped when I have been blistered / wet / tired / anxious / too hot / too cold / too hungry / lost! I am SO grateful. I have got over the border into Scotland, having walked 820 miles, and I have 460 miles to go! Sadly, commitments at home are making it difficult for me to be away for significant lengths of time and I have made the decision to walk the remaining distance remotely, so I will be walking the length of Scotland in the environs of Devon! I will keep you all posted about where I am with my total and plan to end at a Bristol equivalent of John O’Groats - hoping you will join me there!”
Stories from the walk
Katherine has met many remarkable people and the organisations doing great work with them along the way. Here are some of their stories.
Together we can reach £5,000!
Katherine is aiming to raise £5,000 to support TFSW through her Soul to Sole journey. She's now walked 820 miles, with 460 to go, and is already 80% of the way towards her target, thanks to the generous support of a match funder who pledged to double the first £1,000 raised from the public.
Every donation brings us closer to the full £5,000 target and helps provide specialist trauma therapy and training for refugees and people seeking asylum.
Feeling inspired?
If you are inspired by Katherine and would like to organise your own Soul to Sole fundraising effort – maybe a half-marathon, a coffee morning or a community event – please get in touch. We would love to have you join us in helping to support refugees’ futures in this country.
TFSW provides specialist trauma therapy to people who have fled war, persecution and unimaginable hardship. Many of those they support have survived experiences most of us can barely comprehend and we rely heavily on donations to continue its work. Find out more about how we make a difference via our latest Impact Report.
