Leeds Scaffolder Walks to Ben Nevis for Charity
A young scaffolder from Leeds, 24-year-old Kane Haley, is walking 400 miles (644 km) from his home in Belle Isle all the way to the top of Ben Nevis, the highest peak in Britain. He's doing this to raise money for three charities.
Two weeks ago, Kane started his "Belle Isle to Ben Nevis" challenge, and so far he's raised £2,500 for Mind, Andy's Man Club, and the RNLI. After losing friends to suicide, he decided to take on this 21-day journey, walking about 22 miles (35 km) or 10 hours each day.
"I started walking to help my mental health and make a change in my life," Kane said. "Instead of going out drinking, I began spending my weekends outdoors, climbing big mountains in Scotland, England, and Wales."
He wanted a challenge that was different. "I like to set big goals for myself. I thought, I bet no one's done this from Leeds, so why not give it a try?"
His journey has already taken him over the Pennines and into Scotland. In the next week, he'll walk through beautiful places like the Trossachs before reaching Ben Nevis.
Even though he's walking alone, he's met lots of people along the way. He's sharing his adventure on TikTok, where he has more than 1,500 followers.
His mum, Emma Whittaker, is supporting him by meeting up every three days to bring him fresh socks and underwear. "We didn't realize how remote some of these places are, with nowhere open to get food," she said. "I just try to keep him going."
As a co-director of a construction firm, Kane knows how important mental health support is, having seen many of his colleagues affected. He also chose to support the RNLI because he's loved the coast since he was a kid.
With one week left, his biggest worry is the rain. "I can deal with the cold and warm up, but if I get wet, it's going to be tough," he admitted. "I've had a little bit of rain, but not too much yet. We'll see how it goes."
Got a story you think we should cover? Get in touch and let us know.