Six year old virtually walks from Lands' End to John O'Groats

The six-year-old daughter of two Cheshire police officers is taking on a 603-mile virtual walk in support of her great uncle, who has been diagnosed with stage one Alzheimer's.

Heidi Barker started the challenge with some walks around her local area in March 2021 with the aim of covering enough miles to get from Land's End to John O’Groats to raise funds for Alzheimer's Research UK - and it was all her own idea. To date, Heidi has raised over £2,500.

Heidi loves a challenge

Heidi's dad received a book called "1001 albums to listen to before you die", and so she wanted to set herself her own challenge. She thought of her uncle Ian who has recently been diagnosed with stage one Alzheimer's.

Completing a challenge like this would normally be something that someone with walking experience would take on, but not for Heidi, who is only beginning her second year of primary school in September.

Heidi is well and truly up for the challenge and said: "I am really enjoying this adventure. I have met so many lovely people on my walks and hope to meets lots more.

"I have been for a walk in the dark, and I really enjoyed being on the radio.

"I want to raise a lot of money so that I can help my great uncle Ian and other people. My goal is changing every day, because of the amount of money I have raised for Alzheimer's Research. My next target will be to raise £3,000”

Heidi's hike so far

Since starting the walk in March, Heidi has so far completed just over 50 miles of the 603-mile target, and has moved into the second county, Devon after passing through Cornwall.

Heidi along with her mum and dad reached their first virtual checkpoint, which was Mousehole, a local village and fishing port in Cornwall.

Since then Heidi has virtually passed through Penzance, before stopping at St. Ives to play in the sea, and visited the beach at Perranporth.

At the beginning of April, Heidi passed through the seaside town of Newquay, and enjoyed some virtual time at Watergate Bay.

The latest walk for Heidi was a trip out to a windy New Brighton. On her journey, she had 'reached' Padstow, with a four-mile walk, where she treated herself to an ice cream in freezing temperatures.

Amazing response from the public

After just a month of walking, Heidi has managed to raise over £2,500 for the Alzheimer's Research UK. Heidi's hike, which is being shared on social media and has already featured on a local radio station.

It also has the support from former footballer and current radio and TV presenter Chris Sutton, which managed to raise £400 in one day since the former England striker got on board and Countryfile and former Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton has shared the challenge on her own Twitter page.

Just by walking around Cheshire and Wirral, Heidi has had donations from passers-by, including a generous donation from a roofing company who initially put £10 in Heidi's donation bucket and then later generously increased it to £100.

Hiedi’s parents are both serving with Cheshire Police Constabulary: Claire Barker (formerly Claire Francom) has been a serving police officer in the Ellesmere Port area, but is currently on a career break, while dad, David Barker is the Crime Sergeant in Chester.

Donations received so far are mostly from within the United Kingdom but there have been donations from the USA and Australia.

Pictured - Heidi Barker in New Brighton.