“Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you do judge him, you’re a mile away — and you have his shoes.”

Billy Connolly

The nervous laugh before embarking on the 21 miles!

So, how did all this walking and fundraising start? A week after my 21-mile trek, the aches are finally easing up. I wanted to take the opportunity to reflect and, of course, to show my appreciation to everyone who has helped me on my journey. Both for the sponsored hikes and, indeed, the bigger picture.

Donations are still, of course, welcome here:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/tyrone-davies-2?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

What began as an idea in July 2024 to raise money in my late brother Chris's memory that then evolved into fundraising for Marie Curie UK to say THANK YOU for supporting me, has turned into something I never quite expected.

An adventure. A challenge. A lesson in resilience.

And, frankly... A mission.

The first attempt

On 6 September 2025, I completed the 12-mile route of Beat the Trails.

My original ambition had been to complete 23 miles. It became very clear during the day that 23 miles wasn't going to happen. I had the wrong kit. I hadn't trained properly. And, if I'm being completely honest with myself, I had the wrong focus.

I finished 12 miles, and although I had raised £630, I came away feeling disappointed.

I felt that I hadn't delivered on what I had set out to do, the promise I gave, and I worried that I had let down the incredibly kind people who had donated and supported me.

The feedback I received told me otherwise. People reminded me that I had still completed a significant challenge and raised a substantial amount of money for an important cause.

They were right. But something was still nagging at me.

I wanted another go. This time there would be:

No excuses. No half measures. No compromise.

EVERYTHING OR NOTHING: Learning, adapting and overcoming

Over the following months, I took stock.

I thought about what had gone wrong, what I had underestimated, and what I needed to change. Then, at Christmas 2025, I signed up for the gym.

With the help of an excellent instructor, Ian Carruthers at Neath's Celtic Leisure Gym, I put together a much more robust training plan.

Build the engine. Then keep building it.

From January onwards, I concentrated heavily on cardio, progressively increasing my training volume. Initially, that meant one to two hours of structured training each week.

Then two to three hours.

From April onwards, I increased the number of sessions and kept building towards the event.

And I walked. A lot.

I logged training miles wherever life took me — from London to Tuscany, Swansea to Kent.

No not West Wales but taking time out to train off grid in Siena!

Every mile counted. Every session counted.

Even the walks at home with Gwennie — our lovely Corgi — counted.

Bridge On Neath Canal - Now dubbed Gwennie Bridge as a mile from home - 2 mile round trip

Slowly, the numbers began to add up.

More than just a walk

The journey became about considerably more than preparing my legs for 21 miles.

I had the privilege of speaking at the Senedd in February 2026 during the launch of Marie Curie's Great Daffodil Appeal.

You can watch that speech here:

I also spoke to my colleagues at an all-hands day for VidAlert about my mental health journey.

My story was subsequently shared through several syndicated articles in both print and online media. The whole experience allowed me to talk openly about things that are not always easy to talk about.

Mental health.

Resilience.

Setbacks.

Starting again.

And the importance of asking for help.

Life, naturally, had other plans

The year wasn't without its challenges. My car was written off in July, which meant changing how I managed my gym sessions during the final stretch of preparation.

Thankfully, I had remained free of any significant health problems throughout the year.

Then, in the week leading up to the event, I developed kidney stones.

Not exactly the final piece of preparation I had envisaged!

Thankfully, I received excellent treatment and support from my pharmacist and GP and was given the all-clear to participate.

Sometimes the plan is the plan. Sometimes life throws a kidney stone at it.

You adapt.

The second attempt

This time, I was ready. The Beat the Gower route is no gentle Sunday stroll.

It is a long-distance coastal trail involving beaches, dunes, cliffs, countryside, uneven paths and hills. Technically moderate. Physically demanding.

The Full Route - The 21 miler's taper off into the Blue trail to make up the 21 miles then joining the yellow at the top point

What I missed last year, is that the first 9 miles are the hardest climbs with a bit at the end before wrapping up

Around 34 kilometres, with the potential for up to 12 hours on the trail.

And this time...

I finished it. The full twenty-one miles.

Better than that.. I achieved it in 10 hours which was the same time it took me to complete 12 miles last year. So not only went the distance but in a faster time!

My mantra was what they used to say on the Bionic Man series:

Better.. Stronger.. Faster..

After everything that had happened since that first attempt, crossing that finish line meant considerably more to me than simply completing a walking event.

It meant proving something to myself. I had underestimated the journey the first time.

The feeling crossing the line was overwhelming

The second time, I learned.

I adapted.

I overcame.

To paraphrase my military friends:

Learn. Adapt. Overcome.

And then there is the part that matters most.

The fundraising.

Across the two years, your incredible generosity has helped me raise:

£2,000

£630 in 2025.

£1,370 in 2026.

£2,000 altogether.

That number genuinely means a lot to me.

According to published Marie Curie figures, £2,000 can make a meaningful difference to people living with terminal illness and their families. Marie Curie has shared examples where £2,000 of fundraising helped provide around ten nights of overnight nursing care.

Their published figures also illustrate how donations can contribute towards nursing care, overnight support, bereavement services, information and wider support for people and families facing terminal illness.

Ultimately, the money helps Marie Curie provide something incredibly important:

care, dignity, comfort and compassion when people need it most.

That is what makes every mile worthwhile.

The numbers

There are a few numbers from this journey that make me smile.

Last year:

12 miles.

This year:

21 miles.

Together:

33 miles.

Interestingly, 33 was the house number of my first childhood home.

And 21 makes me smile for another reason — it was the number of my second childhood home.

Perhaps the universe was trying to tell me something.

Or perhaps I'm just very good at finding meaning in numbers!

Then there is the training.

I started logging my walking training on Strava in April 2026.

As of today, I've logged more than:

260 miles.

But my wider training journey goes back further.

The Conqueror app has recorded my total training distance since April 2025 at approximately:

1,786 miles — 2,875 kilometres.

That includes daily walking, cycling, treadmill sessions, CrossFit, and gym equipment recorded through Apple Health.

Posing in my 2nd home this year at Neath Gym!

I've also been working towards a virtual Route 66 medal since April 2025.

My own personal training version of The Cannonball Run.

The virtual route is 3,670 kilometres in total.

As of today, I have just 794.69 kilometres remaining.

So apparently, I'm not quite finished walking yet.

What started as fundraising became something bigger

One of the most positive aspects of this journey has been the relationship I've developed with the Marie Curie team. Since that first Beat the Trails attempt, I've had the privilege of working with them to share my story.

I've done that because of my gratitude for the support Marie Curie provides and my enormous respect for the people who deliver that care seven days a week, 365 days a year.

They have supported me with my fundraising and my mental health story with tremendous compassion, sensitivity, and kindness.

That matters.

A lot.

33 miles. £2,000. One hell of a journey.

When I look back now, I don't really see the first attempt as a failure.

I see it as the beginning.

The 12 miles taught me what I needed to learn.

The 21 miles showed me what could happen when I acted on those lessons.

And the £2,000 shows what can happen when people believe in a cause and support someone who is willing to put the miles in.

So, to everyone who donated, shared a post, encouraged me, checked in on me, walked with me, trained with me, or simply said:

"Go on, Ty. You've got this."

Thank you.

You were part of every mile

My incredible wife Donna Davies who has constant faith in me

And finally...

There are far too many people to thank individually without turning this into a small novel, but I want to mention some very special people.

Donna Davies, Ryan Urch, Adrian Davies, Gail Davies, and my family as a whole.

The VidAlert team. Our lunchtime walks, generosity in donations, and kind words.

Warren and Q The Music, and everyone connected with my James Bond fandom. You helped me eliminate all free radicals in 2026. Looking forward to seeing you at the Swansea Grand Theatre on September 19th!

Al Murray. Your hilarious video really did make a difference and encouraged conversation and interest! He really is the Guvnor!

The anonymous donors — I may not know who you are, but I do know where your money is going and the difference it can help make.

Mountain Warehouse in Swansea, for their kindness and support when they learned I was training for the event with a lovely discount!

The Davies cats: Monti, Poppi and Grogu, who somehow seem to know exactly when I've had a hard training session and when I need some fuss. It may sound sentimental, but there were some days that I really couldn't move my legs, and they just sat on them, as if knowing needing a bit of energy! I love them for it.

And, of course...

Ms Gwendoline Mandolin Bamford Davies.

My very good girl. My training companion. My walking buddy.

And quite possibly the best Corgi and friend a man could ask for.

And, most importantly, the entire Marie Curie team.

Thank you for everything.

What's next?

I have no immediate plans to attempt the treble in 2027.

After two years of fundraising, training, walking, and asking friends and family for support, I am taking a little breathing space. I have been grateful for the patience of my friends, family, and anyone checking in on my socials to note my constant request for donations.

I don't want to make any immediate decisions.

But I have promised Marie Curie that, whatever they need from me, I'll be there.

And...

I've started a playlist.

So who knows? 😉

The mission may not be over yet.

Songs for the ongoing journey..

Finally, I have capped off this phase of my walking journey with the opportunity to meet someone remarkable and frankly inspirational for me. When asked about my training, I often commented that this was more stamina than muscle.. Less Arnold Schwarzenegger and more Brian Blessed.. Well.. That wasn't a glib remark to joke about a big, bombastic man walking the hills! It was based on complete respect for Mr Blessed, who, besides being a classically trained actor and yes.. Prince Vultan in Flash Gordon, no less.. is also an acclaimed explorer and mountain climber. Few men can claim that they have attempted to climb Mount Everest 3 times without oxygen, reaching the summits of Aconcagua and Kilimanjaro, plus being the oldest man to reach the magnetic north pole on foot!!!

I have spent the last week recovering from the walk in the Yorkshire Dales, and I noted that there was a convention in Cardiff this weekend and the guest of honour was Brian Blessed no less.. So, I took a spin over yesterday morning and..

..and the windows rattled with our combined boom from Cyncoed to Mongo!

Couldn't resist having a picture with the great man. You never get a chance to have any kind of big discussion with attendees at events such as this, but I did have the chance to quickly tell him that I was recovering from a 21-mile hike and I have been inspired by his adventures. I had a booming "You're looking marvellous!" and "Well done, dear boy" which was the icing on a very long journey. 21 miles, in fact. He chuckled too when I said that I am known for being as reserved and as quiet as he is. You know what, I wouldn't have it any other way, because if I have learned anything on this journey, it is that it doesn't pay to sit quietly on the sidelines. A time and a place, yes, but from the perspective as low as I have been, you see the importance of taking advantage of every second... live for the moment... and try to bring some cheer to go along with the action.

My family now say that they see a genuine smile back.

I would say that's mission accomplished.

The Long Walk Home

#MarieCurie #BeatTheGower #WalkingForACause #Fundraising #EndOfLifeCare #MentalHealthAwareness #Resilience #LearnAdaptOvercome #CharityChallenge #PersonalJourney #OneMileAtATime #NoExcuses