Chris Jones completes his charity raising walk of the coastline of Britain
Chris Jones sends a message of thanks to all Freemasons with an added final plea for help to achieve his ultimate goal
It’s almost two years since, at a Provincial Communication Officers (PCO) conference, Stuart Pearcy PCO, for the Province of Lincolnshire made an impassioned plea about support for Chris Jones. You’ll remember, he’s the guy who wanted to thank the Masonic Charity Fund (MCF) and its counselling service for bringing him back from the brink of suicide by walking the entire coastline of Britian to raise £100,000. Well, two years later he’s back, with 6,500 miles covered, 13 million steps taken, and £75,000 raised so far.
Essex Freemasons came to the fore and published his walk day-to-day throughout his time in Essex via our Website and Facebook social pages. Chris was welcomed to several Lodge meetings where he gave a further insight of his walk and aims. He was also very grateful, for spending the night in several members homes
Chris has now written the note below by way of thanks with also a final plea for your help...
“After two years of walking the entire coast of mainland Britain, I wanted to send a message to the thousands of Freemasons I met who offered me so much kindness and support as I passed through their Province. Nearly 6,500 miles of walking through 44 Provinces in England, Wales and Scotland, nearly 500 nights wild camping in my tent and over 300 Masonic Centres visited on the coast. I could never have done it without the support of so many wonderful Freemasons.
I firmly believe that the support I received was made possible only because of the excellent communication systems we have within our fraternity. With your help, I would like to attempt one last challenge to prove just how good our communications really are.
During this life-changing challenge, I have to date raised, including Gift Aid, just over £75,000 for the MCF. My goal was to raise £100,000 to repay them for the help I was given by its Mental Health Support Programme, which I have no doubt prevented me from taking my own life. This is where I ask for your assistance one last time.
During the walk I received many donations, but some of the most memorable were seven individual donations of £1, each from a young child. Seven children who wanted their £1 coin to make a difference.
My request: could every Freemason in UGLE match the generosity of those seven children? It will take less than three minutes of your time and cost you just £1. Please click on the link below, pledge your £1 and leave a small message to let me know if and where we met during the walk. Please also let me know if you are interested in me visiting your Lodge to present a talk about the challenge. I’m prepared to travel anywhere in the UK, not just on the coastline but I won’t be walking there! Please don’t forget to click the give aid box if you are a UK taxpayer, each £1 will grow by 25 pence.
Thank you once again for your support. A finale celebration will take place in Lincoln on Saturday 15th February 2025 at 1.30pm, it is free to attend unless you would like to join us at 12.30 for a hot buffet lunch (£20 per head). If you would like to join us, please email me at
With only two weeks until the finale event. Please click here now: https://bit.ly/3Cg32Jo pledge that £1, help me reach my target of £100,000 for the MCF – prove how well we Freemasons communicate but more importantly, help the MCF to save more lives, just as they did mine. And remember, it could be someone in your Lodge, or even you. Now there’s a point to ponder…”
Read more https://www.essexfreemasons.org.uk/news/rbw-001
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Top: A triumphant Chris Jones
