Charity walk of more than 140 miles in memory of 16-month-old boy will pass through Milton Keynes
A charity walk covering more than 140 miles in memory of a 16-month-old boy who died from cancer is set to pass through Milton Keynes as part of its route.
The five-day walk is in aid of the Little Ted Foundation, which was set up by Lee and Jess Neal after the death of their son Ted.
The foundation supports bereaved families and those caring for seriously ill children across the country through financial support, food vouchers, essential comfort bags and memory-making opportunities.
A team of charity supporters, including Lee Neal and trustee Ash Anderson, are taking part in the walk, which will start at Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham on Sunday April 5 (Easter Sunday) and conclude at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, on the fourth anniversary of Ted’s death.
The start and finish points have been chosen as Ted was treated at both hospitals during his illness.
The group are hoping to raise £10,000 through the walk, which will follow rivers and canal towpaths between the two cities, with a large majority of the route following the Grand Union Canal.
The walk is set to reach Milton Keynes on its penultimate day, with a 28-mile route on day four set to finish in the city after starting in Northampton.
This part of the route is set to take the walkers along the Grand Union Canal Main Line through Cosgrove and Stony Stratford.
Following an overnight stay at a hotel in Milton Keynes, the walkers will stay on the Grand Union Canal through Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, before joining the Regent’s Canal into London, with the final 30 miles of the epic walk finishing at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The first day will cover 27 miles between Nottingham and Leicester, with day two going 26 miles from Leicester to Market Harborough, and day three 27 miles between Market Harborough and Northampton.
Ash, a trustee for the charity and participant in the walk, said: "We’re doing this in memory of a little boy who lost his life to cancer, and to raise funds to support children and families facing the same fight.
"It’s around 150 miles on foot, and it’s going to be tough - but it means a lot to us. This is our biggest challenge yet and comes with an even bigger target of £10,000."
The group have raised more than £1,000 at the time of writing and you can donate by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/team/team-ted-big-walk-2026