Annual Review 2025
As 2025 draws to a close, it’s time for the TMWF annual reflection. This year marked the 17th year of Dorset Walking.
Last year, I reflected on the charity feeling different—bigger, more concrete, and more than just the Dorset Walk.
This coming year, I am already considering the 20th year: two decades of remembering and making TMWF thrive.
This year was the first full year of Malcolm’s Retreat. Providing free wellbeing and respite breaks has been a tidal wave of success.
Operationally, Keldy’s organisation and oversight have meant it has gone without a hitch. Added to this, her thoughtfulness and care has meant so much and had a genuine, direct impact on people.
Each time, the stories and reasons for people staying take a little bit of reading, but the outcomes and positive impact make Malcolm’s Retreat something TMWF can be very proud of.
My mind has been drifting for some time about what’s next.
The scale of fundraising has moved beyond tens of thousands and into the hundreds of thousands. I have always been inspired by the Robert Horrell Centre in Peterborough. So, we have decided that Project 28 (our next big thing) will be to create The Malcolm Whales Centre in Huntingdon — a real legacy to Malcolm (cue a tear in my eye).
By 2028, we will make this a reality and, in partnership with local charities, it will make a huge difference to the people of Cambridgeshire.
It has been another year of growth. Dorset 2025 included 500 people; 2026 is already looking like it will creep past 600. Not bad considering 400 was the limit, then 500 became a strict limit—who needs limits?
The Meridian Education Trust has shown real enthusiasm to get involved with both the walk and the 10 Hours of Sport. I want to express my gratitude to Zoe, who has taken Swavesey by storm and made TMWF a central part of who they are. Including, this year, Pendleton House choosing TMWF as their charity for the year.
Alongside her enthusiasm, I would also like to thank Martin Campbell, who has been championing our charity across the Meridian Trust.
Hopefully major impact incoming…
Anybody who works in a people-facing organisation knows the challenges that can bring…
However, what TMWF does, is bring out the best in people! We have such an amazing network of incredible volunteers who give so much time and energy to the charity and all its events. Alongside that, we have a wide range of partners who we support—and who equally support us. We are a team of determined people who are making a difference, and, we should all feel very proud!
Cancer, however, is a brutal monster: it destroys, divides, and causes such distress. I am so proud that TMWF is leading the fight back—not just against cancer itself, but by reversing the negativity and replacing it with a sense of togetherness and a real sense of purpose. I hope others feel this way, as it is what courses through my veins!
I think it has taken me 17 years to understand the Dorset Walk.
I have really struggled to explain why it is so good. Dorset 2025 was huge— numbers sky-high, temperatures higher still. But it finally dawned on me that it is the struggle and the difficulty that make it special.
In the report, I said that neither TMWF nor I try to provide a nicely manicured holiday. The topics of conversation are: the heat, the climbs and descents, the rain on the Beast, airbeds going down, sore feet, “I didn’t think I could continue,” etc. Nobody talks about the easy bits—the flat walking or feeling fresh. That’s not challenging; it’s not interesting; it doesn’t ‘count’.
As I say repeatedly, once your feet touch the path, you understand. If you watch the ‘Facebook lives’, you get a sense of it. If you are there in person, you understand!
A summary of Dorset 2025:
This year’s walk actually started for us in February with our pre-visit to Swanage and Wareham Rugby Club — our new venue for 2025.
- Participants: 500
- Miles walked since 2009: 131,040
- Total walkers since inception: 3,276
- T-shirt colours: Black, Grey, and Green
- Weather: A national heatwave (if not hotter)
- Notable completions: Sophie Patman and William Whales completed 40 miles for the first time
- £ per person: EACH / Daisy’s Arc / South West Coastal Path
- Logistics: 6 coaches, multiple transits, vans/lorries delivering to Dorset – it’s getting big!
The full report can be read here
Also just because: James and I decided to walk Hadrian’s Wall the week after Dorset (myself with my twisted ankle).
Additional items from 2025:
- Pete Monaghan took on a huge challenge – to run a half marathon every month throughout 2025.
- In January 2025, we delivered £2,500 worth of tech to Peterborough City Hospital to provide care and support for patients and their families.
- The Community Lend Scheme remains available. This year, we supported the usual destinations plus a couple of new ones, including:
- Upwood Small to Tall – Spring Fayre
- Upwood School – Summer Fayre
- Three Horseshoes – Beer Fest and Birthday
- Upwood Cricket Club
- A Golden Wedding Anniversary celebration in Wistow
- Ramsey Football Club – Summer Tournament
Fundraising & Events
- Hampton Gardens: Staff vs Students Football Fundraiser
- Cambridge Half Marathon: 20 runners this year, and we have secured places for several more years.
- Gaz Morris’ friends undertook a 50-mile fundraising walk from Milton Keynes to Brentford—raising a massive figure shared between Gaz’s family and TMWF.
- The Woodlands Centre Easter Raffle in support of TMWF.
- April: Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-Jecty visited the lodge and subsequently commended the charity in Westminster.
- The Reads: Back at it again with a Cake and Craft stall at Pinnies, Sophie featured on the front page of the paper for her bracelet-selling exploits—followed by another Warboys Cake Stall.
- Upwood Cricket Club Partnership: We now have our own advertising boards at the ground.
- The 10 Hours of Sport: Took place in May with Ely, Swavesey, VISTA, and KSA taking part again.
- July: Damien, Kathryn, Brian, James, and Neil walked 27 miles to Stamford Bridge—the final day of the Peterborough to London challenge—supporting Making Millie Mobile (and made a TMWF donation).
- Richard Marley Netball Tournament: Huge turnout again, with Team TMWF not winning (following some selection difficulties—Mash and McCurly!).
- T-Shirts on Tour (#tshirtsontour): Google My Maps shows TMWF shirts in Bulgaria, Italy, Tenerife, Kuala Lumpur, Portugal, Bangkok, Malta, Netherlands, Spain, Croatia, Greece, Wells, Poland, Sydney on the Lions Tour, and Canada.
Additional Partnerships & Developments
- October: James, Keldy, and I went to Westminster to present Project 28 to Ben Obese-Jecty.
- November: Official launch of Project 28 – The Malcolm Whales Centre.
- Meridian Trust: Invited us to present during their Trust-wide training day in November—focusing on the Dorset Walk and the 10 Hours of Sport and exploring further involvement.
- Project 28 Partnerships: Presented the early vision to HCCN about shaping the use of the Malcolm Whales Centre.
- Cambridgeshire-wide element: Shared with Paul Bristow, Mayor of Cambridgeshire.
Money Raised
| Year | Annual Total | Running Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | £40,000 | £182,000 |
| 2019 | £73,000 | £255,000 |
| 2020 | £31,500 | £286,500 |
| 2021 | £59,224 | £344,224 |
| 2022 | £76,125 | £420,349 |
| 2023 | £81,000 | £501,252 |
| 2024 | £118,634 | £619,886 |
| 2025 | £145,755 | £765,642 |
Donations Made
| Recipient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Remy | £1,000 |
| Blood Cancer | £1,000 |
| Making Millie Mobile | £1,000 |
| Peterborough Hospital – Gaming | £2,500 |
| John G – Thorpe Hall | £3,500 |
| Touch of Sparkle | £1,500 |
| Running a Mile – Bournemouth | £275 |
| Edgar’s Gift | £5,000 |
| Local Family Support (Del) | £750 |
| Purbeck MS | £250 |
| Teddy – Transplant Games | £1,500 |
| Laptop to Mike E | £1,900 |
| Max Hall (Corby) | £500 |
| AL’s Pals | £2,000 |
| HCCN Small Grants | £3,000 |
| Pearce – Brain Tumour | £500 |
| EACH | £500 |
| Alice’s Arc | £500 |
| SWCP | £500 |
| Paul (Wistow/Goddy) | £750 |
| Total Donations | £28,425 |
Trustees & Key People
- Trustees: Damien Whales, Stuart Patman, Neil Welsh, James German, Jack Emery, Jack Edge, Zoe Marley, Brian & Kathryn Read.
- Patrons: Jason Coe, Verity Fretwell, Tony McInally, Jon and Becky Hutton, Liz Whales, Andy Emery, Ben Gibbs, Charlotte Fretwell.
- Ambassadors: Kelvin German, Elise Ward, Sam Browning, Emma Trotman, Naomi Lomax, Niamh Butler, Dennis Smith, Jemma Thompson, Jack Slater.
- We are very keen to recognise those who continue to make a difference. Additional ambassadors can be nominated here.
Looking Ahead
- February: We host our second TMWF Ball at The Maltings in Ely.
- July: Dorset Walk 2026 is expected to attract around 600 participants.
- May: The 10 Hours of Sport will hopefully significantly grow in scale.
- Partnerships: Meetings are already taking place around a possible partnership centred around The Malcolm Whales Centre.
- The Malcolm Whales Centre: We hope it will be fully operational by 2028—dependent on significant community support.
- Business Engagement: We are aiming to secure some business sponsorships and partnerships to help the sustainable future for TMWF.
- Old Nene Ladies Partnership: Thanks to Pauline Day, we will be partnering with Old Nene Ladies as their Charity for the Year.
Summary and Reflection
2026 signals the 18th year and the start, in my mind, of the countdown to our 20th year – two decades of fundraising and the Dorset Walk! With the fundraising increases we have seen in recent years, we are now hunting down one million raised since 2009.
The Dorset Walk expanding to 600 on the walk will test me, the army of volunteers couldn’t be more important. We continue to adapt to ensure we keep growing!
The impact of TMWF deepens. We are able to donate and support a wide range of causes. The Retreat has provided a constant weekly positive impact on people – it has provided so much to so many people.
All three of my boys completing the walk was a big milestone for my family and me. They love it and it is a constant conversation in the Whales household.
In summary, 2025 has provided so much. TMWF isn’t just a fundraiser, or a walk, it delivers some human kindness to people when they need it most and creates a community of people who stay involved year after year because they want to make a difference!
I am very proud of TMWF and this pride continues to grow. Thank you all for your support and making us what we are.