Two lifelong friends and fathers from County Armagh in Northern Ireland have reached the halfway point of their extraordinary 1,000km+ charity walk from Essex to Armagh.
Having left Radwinter in Essex on July 4 they reached the important milestone at the Ribblehead Viaduct landmark in the north Yorkshire Dales.
The next stop will see them crossing into Scotland. Walking unassisted across public footpaths and rights of way with backpacks and tents on their back, they have already battled the blistering heat of England’s recent heatwave and a series of blisters on their feet.
One of them, has even had to spend a day in hospital on a fluid drip as treatment for dehydration, due to the unprecedented temperatures they have been walking in.
John Gribbin, originally from Blackwatertown and now living in Essex, and Eamonn Donnelly, from Keady but now living in Graz in Austria, set off on their “Home from Home” challenge to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital and the NI headquartered Cancer Fund for Children. The entire journey is expected to take around six weeks, with John and Eamonn aiming to arrive in Blackwatertown on or around August 14.
For the proverbial “Boys from the County Armagh” the first three weeks of the journey have proved even more challenging than anticipated, as they have had to walk for long periods in heatwave temperatures averaging around 35 degrees, carrying their backpacks and covering an average of 30km each day.
The extreme conditions took their toll in the first week when John became seriously dehydrated and had to spend a day in Peterborough hospital to receive treatment. Despite the setback, the pair remain determined to continue and have now completed more than 500km of their 1,000km-plus journey. They will next traverse Scotland and get a ferry from Cairnryan to Northern Ireland before completing the walk to Armagh.
Speaking after reaching the halfway milestone, John said: “We knew this was going to be a huge physical challenge, but the heat during the first two weeks has made it particularly difficult and has been far from ideal. Walking long distances with a backpack in temperatures of around 35 degrees has been exhausting, and unfortunately, I became badly dehydrated and needed hospital treatment during the first week.
“It was a worrying setback, but having received excellent care we are back on track to meet our original timeframes. The encouragement we have received from people at home and along the route has been incredible. Every donation, offer of somewhere to pitch our tent and word of support from those we meet on the road or online gives us another lift and reminds us why we are doing this.”
Eamonn added: “It has certainly been a tough couple of weeks marked by both blisters and blistering heat. The temperatures have been relentless, and seeing John in hospital was a reminder that this is a serious undertaking and that we must listen to our bodies. Despite everything, we have now passed the 500km mark, which is a significant milestone. While there is still a long road ahead of us, we remain completely focused on getting home to County Armagh and raising as much money and awareness as possible for two wonderful children’s charities that are special to us.
“We know we are walking for children and families who have faced challenges far greater than anything we will experience on this journey. That thought continues to drive us forward, even on the hardest days.”
The challenge is raising funds for two children’s charities that are especially important to both families. John is walking in support of Great Ormond Street Hospital, where his eldest son received treatment after he was born. Eamonn is walking for the Northern Ireland-headquartered Cancer Fund for Children, which supported his niece Lucy and her family after she was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2020.
Supporters are being encouraged to follow John and Eamonn’s progress on social media, share their story, donate where possible and cheer them on along the route.
Follow the walk on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homefromhome2026/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61591536568598&locale=en_GB
Donating through The Kier Foundation website is simple, fast and secure. All funds raised will be split equally between Great Ormond Street Hospital and Cancer Fund for Children. Gift Aid will also be claimed on every eligible donation made by a UK taxpayer, raising additional funds at no extra cost to the donor.
To donate, visit:
https://www.kierfoundation.org/fundraisers/johngribbin/home-from-home
