Pink-haired Warwick student’s 24-hour walk raises £1.1k for charity

Warwick student Ed Swann has raised over £1,100 for men’s health charities after walking between campus and Leamington Spa for 24 hours.

The second-year PAIS student embarked on the feat of foot-based fundraising in support of men’s mental health charity Movember and the Oddballs Foundation, a testicular cancer charity.

Mr Swann had previously committed to dying his hair pink if he reached a target of £200 raised, and so was accordingly fuchsia for the walk’s duration.

[Ed Swann] said he hoped his achievement would encourage more people to talk about their mental and physical health, and for people to be kinder to others generally

The event saw him walk repeatedly along a route between Warwick campus and his house in Leamington Spa, via the town of Kenilworth.

He was supported in the attempt by members of several Warwick societies; Warwick Medics RFC, Warwick Welsh Society, and Warwick Labour, members of which joined Swann for parts of the walk.

In total, he walked 96km, and some 126,000 steps. As of 12 November, he had raised £494 and £627 for his selected charities respectively – £1,121 total.

Speaking to The Boar after the ordeal, the pink-haired perambulator said he hoped his achievement would encourage more people to talk about their mental and physical health, and for people to be kinder to others generally.

Now more than ever we need positive role models for men, who show […] we can talk about our own feelings and experiences

Ed Swann

He noted that people “have to do more to break the stigma around men talking about their emotions”, especially amid the growing popularity of “toxic masculinity figures”.

“Now more than ever we need positive role models for men, who show that it’s ok to not be ok, that it’s human to care, and that most importantly of all, we can talk about our own feelings and experiences.

“Both Movember and the OddBalls Foundation help this happen. They focus on tearing down the stigma around men’s mental health, as well as giving support to those who have been diagnosed with testicular and prostate cancer, two of the highest killers of men that can be avoided if we break the silence that lingers around men’s health.”

News of Swann’s exploits have reached as high as the charities themselves, with Kieran Kelly, Manager of the Oddballs Foundation, telling The Boar that they were “truly grateful for Ed’s efforts”.

Giving some idea of what his fundraising achieved, Kelly explained: “A £600 donation makes a significant impact on our work. For example, it could cover the costs of delivering multiple awareness talks in schools, colleges, and workplaces, educating hundreds of people on the importance of Testicular Cancer Awareness and early detection.

“Alternatively, it might fund the distribution of around 5,000 ‘Check Yourself’ guides, which are an eye-catching and engaging way to start conversations and promote awareness.”

For the end of his walk, which ended on Leamington’s Lower Parade, Swann was joined by a procession of supporters, including several school friends who made the trip to surprise him.

The expedition party then ended their effort in The Benjamin Satchwell, Leamington’s branch of Wetherspoon’s named, fittingly, after a prolific philanthropist.

We’re really chuffed for and with him; the boy’s done good, although I don’t think he’s in any hurry to see Kenilworth for a little while

Rachel Swann, Ed’s mother

The Boar was further pleased to be able to speak to Rachel Swann, Ed’s mother. Mrs Swann attested to a history of charitable acts by Ed and his brother, Chris, both of whom had previously been involved in the Scouts and charity sports events.

There was form too for bold decisions with hair, she said, retelling how after a game of poker in Year 13, Ed had agreed to shave his head as forfeit.

“His grandmother was heartbroken, and he looked like he’d been prepped to enter a military academy,” she recounted. For her, then, going pink this time round seemed much more reasonable.

Rachel said that the Swann family had been “struck by how many people have come out to keep him going, both in the support WhatsApp group, where the family have been able to publicly embarrass him, and in person”.

She added: “We’re really chuffed for and with him; the boy’s done good, although I don’t think he’s in any hurry to see Kenilworth for a little while.”

To hit £600 felt like a monster of a task. To nearly double it was beyond impossible.

Ed Swann

In a statement to The Boar, the littler Swann thanked all the people who had come out to support him in the fundraising effort.

“To Ellie Smith for the publicity work; Ben Southall for the connection with OddBalls; Ollie Chapman for going blonde; my parents for making sure I was prepared; the people of Welsh Society, Warwick Medics RFC, and Warwick Labour for the encouragement.

“James, Fab, Joe, and Isaac for giving me a taste of home by coming to surprise me; those who joined me on the walk with your distracting conversations and extra food, and most importantly, to those who donated, no matter the size – thank you.”

“To hit £600 felt like a monster of a task. To nearly double it was beyond impossible.”

He added that the two fundraisers will stay open until December, and can be found via his Instagram Linktree (available here).