Barefoot Training Walk
Barefoot Walk
Andy Neale is raising money for DEBRA
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My story
On Thursday 16th July 2026 I will be walking barefoot from my home in Basingstoke to the DEBRA head office in Bracknell to raise money in support of those suffering with EB, an excruciating condition which currently has no cure.
EB is short for epidermolysis bullosa. Inherited EB is a group of rare and incredibly painful genetic skin conditions that cause the skin to blister and tear at the slightest touch. With skin as fragile as a butterfly’s wings, EB is often referred to as ‘butterfly skin’.
The route I am walking will cover approximately 22.97 miles (35km) and likely take me over 10 hours to complete.
The pain I will undoubtedly feel during the walk will be nothing compared to the unimaginable suffering those with EB face every single day.
Through undertaking this challenge I want to raise awareness of EB through you my family and friends as well as through your friends and family too. Together we can all help make a difference!
Some of you may know how big a challenge this is for me not only doing barefoot but given my heart condition and the possibility of facing triggers that cause me to blackout (collapse). At times along the way I am going to have to dig deep and push on to the finish.
Over the coming months I will share training videos, details of the route and more updates.
Any donation no matter how big or small will mean so very much!
Thank you!
Andy ♥️
For more information about EB. please see the link below.
Epidermolysis bullosa (EB): symptoms, treatment, and care | DEBRA UK
If you have been inspired and want to get involved please see the link below.
Thank you for checking out my page. Making a donation is fast, easy and secure thanks to Give as you Live Donate. They'll take your donation and pass it onto DEBRA.
My updates
Today I woke up to see that we have reached £500! I am truly grateful and humbled by the love, support and generosity. It means so much!!
I am feeling emotional as I write this update...Why?!
DEBRA came into my life over 8 years ago now and it holds a special place in my heart. Currently there is not cure for EB and the suffering of these children and their families continues.
Imagine not being able to do the simplest of things that give us and the children in our lives happiness and pleasure without excruciating pain!
From playing in the park on the swings and slide, having hugs and cuddles with family, playing with friends, eating their favourite foods because of the likelihood of internal blisters, a good sleep because of 'itch' and the morphine that is needed to help reduce the sensation!! All these things and so much more bring pain!
Despite all this intolerable pain a child with EB carries on day in day out embracing life. They are truly inspirational and when they smile...wow..it lights up any room!!
By the end of my walk my feet will be a mess and are going to take days if not weeks to heal but they will heal! EB sufferers are not so lucky! The pain I will feel is NOTHING!! That is NOTHING!!
In my heart and every fibre of my being I will carry those children that have lost their lives to EB, those and their families still suffering with EB and you the kind donors and sharers with me every step of the way on the walk. Thank you for helping to be the difference for EB!!
I believe that one day there will be a cure and we will have played our part! What a beautiful day that will be!
If you have been meaning to donate or share, now would be a brilliant time. Even the smallest contribution helps move us closer to smashing the target and closer to finding a cure!
A beautiful dry sunny afternoon for a barefoot walk. For those of you that use Strava here is a flyover video of the walk…
Thank you to everyone for the continued donations. Hope, Callum, Wayne and the anonymous donor you helped me to go that little bit further today ♥️
Last weekend I was back walking barefoot on Saturday and on Sunday in barefoot shoes I walked the first 5 miles of my route out of Basingstoke. Pretty happy with the route so far! 😃
This weekend I completed another barefoot walk and my feet are holding up well. Looking forward to drier days and upping training walk frequency.
Thank you for all the donations…they mean so much and really do keep me going! 😃
It has been a few weeks since my last post. My feet have largely healed now and I hope to be walking completely barefoot again in my training very soon. The pic is how my foot was last weekend.
Everyday I have still been walking in my barefoot shoes and today walked the first part of the route without getting lost 😂. Quite an accomplishment for me given I have lived in Basingstoke all my life and at times still struggle with directions! 😂
More updates to follow as I firm up the route I will be taking and share it with you all.
Thank you for the continued support. Together we will make a difference for EB! 😃
Charity
DEBRA
Charity number: 1084958
Activity tracker
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Total distance
Recent donations
Romina
£20.00
Johanna Berry
£10.00
+ £2.50 Gift Aid
Good luck in your challenge.
Babita Sharma
£50.00
Amazing Andy!! wishing you all the best.
Mike Leung
£20.00
+ £5.00 Gift Aid
Fighting!
Donna and Alex Hughes
£25.00
Andy, what an amazing thing to do for charity. I know you will go and smash this challenge. Good luck!
Hannah Picking
£10.00
+ £2.50 Gift Aid
Such a brilliant cause, wishing you lots of luck X
Adele Hudson
£5.00
+ £1.25 Gift Aid
Good luck
Anonymous
£5.00
+ £1.25 Gift Aid
Good luck!
Callum Elson
£20.00
Well in Andy!
Wayne Amos
£20.00
+ £5.00 Gift Aid
Good luck Andy.
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