The Great Northern Walk for a Soup Kitchen

My name is Tom, I'm writing for Sunderland Global Media (SGM), as well as working on its novel and film project, The North Star.

These works are driven by love for Sunderland, and my desire to do good for the area. I am worried that these days, people are struggling to eat and with the costs of living. Not only that, but homelessness is on the rise. I think it's time to make a difference.

Therefore, to raise money for the Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen and help kick off their 2024 work, I I have decided to take upon myself an excruciating and unprecedented journey by foot from Sunderland to Bamburgh in Northumberland (roughly 60 miles, or over two marathons), the latter of which is also a location in the story. The proposed date of the trek is Tuesday 9th January.

This journey will not be easy, it will take 20 or so hours direct (not counting rest stops). In doing so, while obviously it will be themed about the work, most importantly I aim to raise money for a very important Community Organisation on Wearside, the Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen, which humbly describes itself as: "A Group of volunteers providing free food to hungry people in Sunderland."

While it is easy to write a story about a fictional hero, our city needs real heroes such as the dedicated volunteers who dedicate themselves to this work, and in doing so I am prepared to test all my limits for this extraordinary adventure. I will try my best.