A policeman has praised the “heroes in their very own proper” who've given him meals and a mattress to sleep in throughout a 263-mile stroll from Cornwall to London with no cash.
Tom Harrison from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, has raised greater than £4,000 for the British Crimson Cross Society’s Ukraine Disaster Enchantment by strolling throughout the nation – a Ukrainian flag hooked up to his rucksack flying behind him – and knocking on the doorways of over 100 homes asking for meals or a spot to remain.
The 46-year-old Metropolitan Police officer set off from Land’s Finish on September 12 and can arrive at Parliament Sq. on Thursday.
The daddy-of-two informed the PA information company: “It was daunting at first, as a result of I’ve by no means actually been in that place the place I’m having to knock on somebody’s door (and say), ‘This may sound ludicrous, however I’m strolling from Land’s Finish to London and I've no cash.’
“The primary place I finished, it was an aged couple who lived on a highway main up from Land’s Finish on the north coast of Cornwall.
“They mentioned: ‘Come on in, have a cup of tea and a few breakfast.'”
Mr Harrison has aimed to stroll round 20 miles a day, venturing by means of Hayle in Cornwall, Yeovil in Somerset and Basingstoke in Hampshire.
He has been given biscuits, lunches and even a mattress in a stranger’s pool home.
“Anybody who could make a cup of espresso, you made this journey doable – with out you, I wouldn’t have been ready to do that,” he mentioned.
“One woman gave me her sandwich that she made for lunch.
“They're heroes in their very own proper they usually’ve been a part of my story.
“It has made me worth dwelling… There’s one factor having cash in your pocket so you may spend it and one other factor simply having a house, I’m going to be rather more appreciative of that.”
Previously generally known as Mr Gorilla after finishing numerous fundraisers wearing a gorilla costume – together with crawling the London Marathon in 2017 – Mr Harrison pledged himself to the trek in solidarity with “all of the Ukrainian individuals”.
He added: “Their struggling has been far past mine.
“Dropping their properties, family members and associates killed, having to flee the nation.
“Actually my day-to-day, the fatigue and discovering meals or lodging, is nothing in comparison with what (they've been by means of).”
Whereas documenting his journey on Instagram, Mr Harrison has even secured a free keep at a resort.
He hopes to spend his remaining night time with an aunt and uncle in Mortlake, west London.
“They’ve helped me out on numerous charitable ventures I did up in London and (I need) to incorporate them in my journey,” he mentioned.
Mr Harrison mentioned the cash raised will “make a distinction” to Ukrainians.
“I do know the Crimson Cross have been placing collectively a pack for when individuals arrive within the UK,” he mentioned.
“I wish to thank everybody who’s donated, whether or not that’s cash, meals, (and) made this doable.
“I hope it conjures up individuals to do their very own little problem.”
Mr Harrison goals to complete his stroll in time to select his son up from afterschool membership.
To search out out extra about his trek, go to: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/landsendlondon.