Finding Hope in the Wilderness
20th June 2026
Will4Adventure will once again be fundraising for Chapter2 with their Fathers Day Challenge 2026. This will be an insane 50 mile sponsored walk/ultra marathon through the Peak District National Park to be completed inside 24 hours. Without a doubt, this will be a tough gig. But also it is a wonderful walk through a glorious part of the world, traversing the Eastern Edges of the Peak District and returning along the lush and beautiful Derwent Valley. It really is a wonderful route, and in good company, with the right frame of mind, this might just be achievable.
Who Can Take Part?
Whether you’re a seasoned walker/runner or even a complete novice taking on your first big challenge, this walk is open to everyone. You can walk solo, form a team, or come along and make new friends with kindred spirits. Even if you have never walked anything like this sort of distance before, we implore you to take part and give it a try. (If it helps to know, there will be a support vehicle on call throughout the event).
When and where?
This event will commence on Saturday 20th June 2026 at 0400, starting and finishing in Hope in the Hope Valley, in Derbyshire. You will have 24 hours to tackle this amazing challenge. In our experience, most people who manage to go the distance, do so, between 11 and 20 hours.
With a detailed route description, (and for the lovers and adopters of tech: a GPS plot), you will navigate yourself as far as your feet will possibly carry you, up to the maximum of 50 miles / 80Km. Along the way a team of marshals will support you in your endeavours with feeding stations to serve a (second) breakfast at around the 10 mile point, a cooked dinner for lunch, and for those final miles, coffee and cake: when only carbs and caffeine count. (Other options will be available for those that are not so keen on bacon!)
Should the task become just untenable, we will also have a support vehicle on hand to magic you back to the start point in Hope.
Entry Fee
Adult individual – £95
Student/U18 – £70
- Detailed route card
- Event support/refreshments/cooked dinner
- Support vehicle
The Route
The route is a circular route that links up the Eastern Edges of the Peak District before it descends to the lush green pastures of Chatsworth House. There’s a smooth transition from the Dark Peak to the White Peak giving you a really good perspective of Britain’s first national park in one hit.
To help you find your way on the day, you will be issued a route-card describing the whole way. In addition marshals will be located along the route to help show the way at key locations. For those of you with navigational software, a GPX file for the full route can be downloaded here.
See this route on GoogleMyMaps here
Download the written route card here
Please remember this is a fundraising challenge too …
This is an exclusive event to raise funds for Chapter2 and all participants will have a target to raise £1000. Participant spaces on this event are limited and so only individuals committed to raising funds should book. Chapter2 reserves the right to cancel any bookings in the event that no reasonable endeavours have been made to raise funds. After booking on this event, each participant will be allocated a personal JustGiving fundraising page and will be contacted by Chapter2 who will offer support on how best to raise funds.
If you can raise £1000, that will be truly awesome! But, raise £2000, and this will be enough to provide a fatherless boy with a fully trained, assessed, supported and supervised long-term male mentor for one year.
Why get behind Chapter2?
“76% of young people in custody had an absent father” (Source, Centre for Social Justice)
Chapter2 believe passionately that every boy should have a good man to guide him into adulthood and so their aim is to provide a male mentor and a community of men for boys growing-up without a father. It is arguably the single one thing we can do to improve the life opportunities of boys without fathers. Learn more here.
Further Reading
- Training for challenge walks – guide to get fit
- Top Tips For Footcare
- Fifty Mile Walk: It’s no Mean Feet
- Act Now: Seize the Day
- Underestimating My Daughter
- The Tongue In Cheek History Of The Peak District
“This was a 50 mile walking challenge across the Peak District. Despite the weather (gale-force winds, lashing rain), we had a great day. Will’s route was first class, marshals were always positive and support was there when needed. Looking forward to next year!”
“I did the 50 mile walking challenge, after having participated in one of Will’s shorter challenge walks last year. It was wonderfully organised, beautiful route and all the marshals were very friendly and supportive. Excellent atmosphere despite the terrible weather. I wouldn’t have dreamed to even attempt walking 50 miles in 24 hours without this team.”
“If you want a walk that is challenging this is definitely 1 to try. Fantastic event, even though the weather conditions were dreadful this year. Superb organisation and such fantastic marshals supporting all walkers throughout the course. would highly recommend.”
“Amazing experience despite the horrendous weather, so well organised and supported. Will be back next year for another attempt. Thank you to Will and his team for the time and effort to deliver this challenge.”
