From Wolverhampton to the London Marathon, Manny Singh’s Trek for Dementia UK

Manny Singh Kang set off before dawn from the Billy Wright statue outside Molineux. He was wearing a faded Wolves scarf knotted at his throat and his trainers were engraved with the names of people affected by dementia.

Kang was walking to London – a planned 135‑mile trek to Greenwich Park followed by the London Marathon. His journey would see him travel a total of 156 miles, all without sleep, to raise money for Dementia UK.

He planned to walk through Birmingham, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire before reaching Milton Keynes and then north London, arriving at Greenwich for his seventh London Marathon. Express

Dubbed Manny’s Marathon Madness

The walk had been a preface, a way to arrive with a story in his bones and a cause on his feet. Every mile he carried forward was a donation, a memory, and a medal.

Kang said:

It will be the toughest, hardest challenge that I’ve ever faced, but I still reflect on the people we’re helping who face tough, hard challenges every day.

He added:

You don’t need to know somebody to help them, go out and do something good to affect your community positively.

Manny’s Struggle

For seven years, Manny has turned personal grit into public good, raising money and awareness for Dementia UK and its Admiral Nurses. He has also served as a Volunteer Ambassador for the charity.

Over that time, his fundraising has helped generate hundreds of thousands of pounds for families affected by dementia.

He told the BBC:

I came up with this quite bonkers super challenge but I think it’s possible. Human capabilities are much stronger than sometimes our thoughts let us experience so it’s about taking those negative thoughts away focusing on the positivity.

Along the route

Manny recorded short messages for his mother on his phone. He also carried a laminated photograph tucked into his pack – a reminder of why he kept moving when the miles blurred. His trainers carried names of dementia patients and family members – a literal imprint of the cause he was walking for.

People who recognised the Wolves scarf stopped to donate, to cheer, to tell him their stories. Local businesses printed event shirts and followers tracked his progress.

It’s important to note that the attention was not what he initially sought, but these are the types of challenges that bring communities together.

During the current rise of the far right in particular, this is what many need – a positive cause to unite for.

Reaching London

When Manny reached London, volunteers wrapped him in foil, offered water, and guided him to the marathon village. His legs were heavy, but the ache was worth the triumph.

He laced up again and stepped to the start line of the London Marathon, not as a man who had missed a train but as a Wolves fan who had walked his team’s colours into the heart of the capital.

Featured image via the BBC