Matthew Stevens’ 200-Mile Coast to Coast Walk

Raising funds for the brand-new WFA Benevolent Fund

To support the WFA Benevolent Fund, Matthew Stevens, WFA Secretary, is taking on an incredible solo challenge – a 200-mile Coast to Coast walk across the country.

Starting on the shores of St Bees on the West Coast on Tuesday, April 29th, Matthew will walk through the Lake District, cross the Yorkshire Dales, and navigate the North York Moors, aiming to finish in the seaside town of Whitby on Monday, May 12th – the day after the John Good WFA Cup Quarter and Semi Finals.

He’ll be walking solo, carrying everything he needs in his rucksack (except a tent – he draws the line at camping!), covering tough terrain, unpredictable weather, and more than a few blisters – all in the name of Powerchair Football.

Why is he doing it?

To help grow the WFA Benevolent Fund – a dedicated financial pot created to support members of our Powerchair Football family in times of hardship.

This fund has been created to help mitigate financial strain within our community, ensuring more people can access and continue playing the sport they love. It will provide support where it is most needed and, over time, will grow to play a key role in sustaining and expanding Powerchair Football across the country.

Every penny raised from Matthew’s challenge will go directly into building this fund.

Key Dates:

Start: St Bees – Tuesday, April 29th

Finish: Whitby – Monday, May 12th

Distance: Over 200 miles

Companions: Just Matthew, a backpack, and the spirit of the WFA community spurring him on!

When he arrives in Whitby, he’ll be greeted by local members of The WFA community for a well-earned fish & chips celebration – the perfect finish to an incredible journey.

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Unseasonably hot again today, but very satisfying once you look down at what you've achieved. It's a big day tomorrow as I take on Kidsty Pike, at just under 800m - the highest I'll go. Thankfully, the forecast is cooler. A thousand thanks for your donations and messages; means the world 🌎 ❤️

A tough opening day with hot weather and a steep climb to contend with, but the stunning scenery and friendly faces along the route made it all worthwhile. From fellow walkers to the good folk of Cumbria giving a wave from their cars — the support has already been brilliant!

Hi everyone – thanks for following my Coast to Coast challenge!

As the old Chinese proverb says, even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step – so here goes!

After yesterday’s 7-hour train journey up to St Bees, today’s walk is around 15 miles with just over 300 metres of elevation. The weather’s looking fair, which is a great start!

I’ll be leaving the West Coast this morning, heading through Cleator Moor and into the Lake District, finishing the day at Ennerdale Bridge.

Thanks again for all the support – it really means a lot. Have a great Tuesday, and I’ll update you again soon! 😊

Hi everyone – and thanks for checking out my Coast to Coast challenge page!

With just a few weeks to go, training is well underway! I’ve been clocking up around 50–60 miles each week, although this week’s been a little quieter with other bits going on.

Most of my walks are around 10 miles at a time, but I’ve now started building in at least one 15-mile walk each week – which is more in line with the daily distances I’ll be covering during the challenge (and there are even a couple of 20-milers in there too!).

I’m feeling confident about the distance – now I just need to start getting up a bit earlier! 😅

Every bit of support means the world, and I hope you'll consider donating to help get the WFA Benevolent Fund off to a great start.

More updates soon!