A University of Reading staff member is preparing to walk 100 miles in five days to celebrate the institution’s centenary while raising money for a Berkshire mental health charity.
Nathan Bingham, 33, from Reading, will set off from Woolwich in east London on 31 July before arriving at the University of Reading campus on 4 August.
The challenge, called 100 Miles for 100 Years, aims to mark the university’s 100th anniversary while raising awareness of Sport in Mind, a Reading-based charity that uses physical activity to support people experiencing mental health challenges.
Mr Bingham, who has supported the charity since 2019, said: “This challenge is about much more than walking 100 miles. It’s about raising awareness of Sport in Mind and showing how sport and physical activity can transform lives.
“The University has around 4,000 members of staff, and if even a small number discover Sport in Mind through this challenge, volunteer or access their sessions, that would be an incredible legacy.”
His route follows the Thames Path through Fulham, Hampton Court, Windsor and Henley-on-Thames before finishing with a final mile on the University of Reading campus, where university staff, students, alumni and members of Sport in Mind will join him.
Mr Bingham previously completed a fundraising walk from Lyme Regis to Reading in 2024 to encourage people to check in on each other’s mental health.
He said: “Walking creates a space where conversations happen naturally. You’re not sitting face-to-face across a table, you’re moving together, which often makes it easier to open up. Sometimes a simple walk can make all the difference.”
Speaking about his motivation, he added: “I’ve always found that sport helps me stay connected. It gives you a routine, brings people together and creates friendships. As we get older, those social connections can become harder to maintain, but sport provides a reason to get out, meet people and look after your mental health. That’s exactly why I love what Sport in Mind does.”
Sport in Mind, which is based in Reading, delivers physical activity programmes for thousands of children and adults experiencing mental health challenges each year.
According to official figures, 6,069 suicides were registered in England and Wales in 2023, the highest number since 1999.
Julia Saunders, community fundraising officer at Sport in Mind, said: “We’re so grateful to Nathan for his ongoing commitment to raising awareness of mental health through physical activity.
“His ‘100 Miles for 100 Years’ challenge is a fantastic way to celebrate the University of Reading’s centenary while shining a spotlight on the positive impact that sport can have on mental wellbeing.
“Every step Nathan takes will help inspire conversations, raise vital funds and enable more people experiencing mental health challenges to access our life-changing sport and physical activity programmes. We wish him the very best of luck and look forward to welcoming him for the final mile at the University of Reading.”
