One Million Steps for Diabetes UK — And Why I’m Not Stopping There
The Challenge
This summer, I set myself a challenge: to walk one million steps in support of Diabetes UK. Step by step, day by day, I logged every walk — through sunshine, drizzle, and even those late-night laps in the dark. As of this week, I’ve done it. One million steps. But I’m not done yet.
The Journey
From July to September, Diabetes UK runs the Million Step Challenge — inviting people to walk their way to fitness while raising vital funds for research and support. For me, it was personal. Having been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, walking has become my way of staying healthy, clear-headed, and connected.
Along the way I’ve walked in some pretty memorable places. The French Riviera, where blue seas and warm air made each step feel light. The English Riviera in Devon, with its dramatic coastlines. And closer to home, Barry Island in South Wales — better known as the filming spot of Gavin & Stacey, and a lovely place for a family walk.
Sometimes, my wife Elaine and our 11-year-old twins joined me — making the miles fly by. Other times it was just me, my ear pods, and my soundtrack of choice: Chicane. Their music has been with me since the 90s, and it became the rhythm of my walking this summer.
Reaching a Million
On 27 September, my total ticked past 1,000,000 steps. That’s the equivalent of walking from Cardiff to Aberdeen — a huge milestone that felt both surreal and satisfying.
Not every step was easy. Some evenings, I found myself walking in the rain, determined to keep the daily average up. Winter is coming, and I know it will be harder — but that determination has already carried me this far.
My watch became both a tracker and a motivator. Every evening I logged my steps into the Diabetes UK app, and the numbers kept me going. In the photo below, the watch is actually in power saving mode — so the heart rate shows as resting rather than walking — but the step count is real, and that’s what mattered most.
A Personal Dedication
This challenge is not just about me. My late dad also developed diabetes later in life. He didn’t have the support, the awareness, or the tools I’m lucky to have now. I often think of him during walks, knowing he would have understood this journey in a way few others do.
Here he is, on his beloved boat on the Thames, doing something he loved — remembered as I make these steps for both of us.
The Next Goal — Land’s End to John O’Groats
One million steps got me halfway. But the official walking distance from Land’s End to John O’Groats is 874 miles, and I want to reach that before New Year’s Eve.
That means pushing on to 1.7 million steps total — that’s another ~700,000 steps between now and 31 December. With 94 days left, that works out at about 7,500 steps a day: a tough but achievable target, even in the winter.
Why It Matters
Walking is more than exercise for me. It’s how I manage my type 2 diabetes — and how I remind myself that, even in your sixties, life can still hold purpose and movement.
But it’s also a tribute. Doing this walk in memory of my dad gives it meaning beyond fitness. And writing about my diagnosis and daily life with diabetes helps make this personal journey useful for others.
How You Can Help
If you’d like to support this journey — even in a small way — please consider donating to my Diabetes UK fundraiser. Every penny helps.
Also, if you’d like to follow my progress, check out my YouTube channel, SixtyRocks (https://www.youtube.com/@SixtyRocks) where I’ll post updates and reflections.
Closing
One million steps down. 700,000 more to go.
By the end of 2025, I’ll have walked the full road from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Step by step — for my health, my family, and for Diabetes UK.
