Chris Lewis, an ex-paratrooper, had hit rock bottom, suffering with anxiety and depression so severe he would shut himself in his bedroom for weeks. Then, in summer 2017, whilst surfing - his only respite - he cast his eyes along the coast and made an impulsive decision that would change his life.
A few days later, on 1st August 2017, with nothing but a broken tent, a borrowed pair of boots and £10 in his pocket, Chris set off to walk the entire UK coastline raising funds for the veterans charity, SSAFA. He had no idea how long it would take him or if it was even possible. What followed was the adventure of a lifetime which turned his life around. He adopted his beloved dog, Jet, nine months into the journey who became his devoted companion.
He faced serious challenges along the way battling hunger, injury (he had to pull his own tooth out with a rabbit snare), extreme weather conditions and incredibly challenging terrain in the most remote corners of the UK. He spent three months on the uninhabited island of Hildasay with no fresh water, food or electricity. It was in these wildest landscapes that he found happiness, pride and self-respect.
Soon after, his life was to take an unexpected turn once again when he met Kate, a fellow adventurer, at the bottom of a cliff. Kate packed in her former life to join him on the walk full-time and the couple then welcomed their baby son, Magnus along the way. Undeterred, they continued with their newborn baby in tow and finished the walk in July 2023 with an army of followers crossing the line behind them having raised over £500,000 for charity. By the end of his walk, Chris had gained more than he could ever have imagined possible.
Chris and his family, now known as Wilderness Family, are currently getting ready to embark on their next big adventure cycling and hiking 8000 miles along the Atlantic Coast of Europe raising funds for the charity, Make A Wish UK. The first leg of their adventure starts this March 2025.
Join Chris in the Museum for an entertaining, heartwarming and inspiring talk, as he shares stories and reflections from his incredible journey.
The content of talks are based on the research and views of the guest speakers.
The Museum is an independent charity and a proportion of the proceeds from this event will go towards supporting the work we do in preserving the history of British Army aviation.
