James Lewis, a 34‑year‑old football enthusiast from Staffordshire, has embarked on an extraordinary trek that sees him dribbling a football across continents to raise money for St Giles Hospice.
The challenge began on 1 May in Marrakesh, Morocco, and is scheduled to culminate in Rugeley by 19 July, a timeline that underscores the scale of his ambition.
Lewis says the motivation behind the odyssey is personal; the hospice cared for his father, David Lewis, before his death in 2011, and he hopes the journey honours that memory.
Community support fuels the trek
Along the way he has faced relentless heat, sudden chest pains and the physical strain of carrying a ball for thousands of kilometres, yet locals in Morocco and Spain have repeatedly stepped in, offering food, water and shelter.
In Marrakesh, a group of market vendors pooled resources to keep him hydrated during a scorching afternoon, while in a small town in Andalusia a family opened their home for a night’s rest.
Looking ahead
With the finish line in sight, Lewis plans to channel the momentum into a final push, aiming to surpass his previous fundraising targets and to highlight the ongoing need for palliative care.