A remarkable fundraising challenge led by Alex Kiley has raised an outstanding £23,876 for Swansea Bay Health Charity and Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity), following a powerful 192-mile walk from Swansea to London, symbolically connecting the hospitals that helped save his son’s life.

The six-day journey completed in July 2025, saw Alex, alongside close friend Gavin and his 72-year-old father, walk from Swansea to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). The challenge was both a physical and emotional tribute to the extraordinary care provided to Alex’s son, Theo, who required critical treatment shortly after birth.

Theo was initially cared for at Singleton Hospital in Swansea before being transferred to GOSH for specialist treatment. The experience left a lasting impact on Alex and his family, inspiring a year-long fundraising effort to give back.

“This challenge was about gratitude,” Alex said. “The care Theo received at Singleton and GOSH was nothing short of extraordinary. Without it, our story could have been very different.”

The walk itself was the culmination of months of planning and training, with long hours spent preparing both physically and mentally. The team walked for 17 hours on the first day alone, continuing across Wales and England before arriving in London the following Friday to an emotional welcome from family and hospital staff.

The fundraising extended far beyond the walk. A community-driven effort saw multiple events organised over the course of the year, including a live music concert featuring local performers, a charity golf day attended by 200 participants, and a celebratory evening event in Swansea. These initiatives brought together supporters from across the community, highlighting the widespread impact of Theo’s story.

Catrin Jones, Digital Fundraising & Engagement Officer at Swansea Bay Health Charity, said:

“We met Alex last week for a cheque presentation, and it’s amazing to see it all lead to this moment. It was so special to see Alex, Theo and the family to return to Singleton NICU under much happier circumstances. The funds raised will make a real difference to families who find themselves in similar situations.”

Alex has kindly donated £13,876 to Singleton Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), which will be used to enhance the facilities, equipment and support for families experiencing some of the most challenging moments of their lives. The remaining £10,000 has been donated to GOSH Charity, to help support seriously ill children from across the UK.

Gabi Field, Deputy Director of Public Fundraising at GOSH Charity, said: “On behalf of everyone at GOSH Charity, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to Alex and his family for their incredible fundraising efforts. Inspired by his son Theo’s journey, the money raised by Alex’s epic 192-mile walk will make a truly lasting difference to children and their families treated at GOSH, who are facing some of the toughest challenges. At GOSH Charity, we are committed to giving seriously ill children the best chance, and best childhood possible and we simply wouldn’t be able to do this without the generosity and dedication of supporters like Alex.”