Kit Birks wins Pride of Britain regional award

What happened?

Kit Birks, a former nurse from Andover, won ITV Meridian West and Thames Valley’s Pride of Britain Regional Fundraiser of the Year award for 2026.

Birks walked nearly 5,000 miles, from the Arctic Circle to the Mediterranean. ITV reports that she became the first person to walk the entire length of Europe. She raised more than £100,000 for suicide prevention.

What did the walk involve?

The walk took 343 days. Birks spent 210 nights in a tent and 308 days completely alone. She walked through heatwaves, swarms of mosquitoes and snowstorms. Hundreds of thousands of people followed her daily updates on social media.

Sandy Loder, a former British Army officer and performance coach, advised her on staying safe. He said it was remarkable for someone with so little experience of long wilderness walks. After about two weeks, he said, “you definitely saw the resilience and the grit come in her.”

Why did she do it?

Birks has spoken openly about living with mental illness and addiction for many years, from the age of 11 or 12. She reached a point of crisis before her recovery. She wants others to know that life can get better.

“I’m not different,” she said. “I’m just a person that managed to get to the other side.”

Where did the money go?

The money went to two charities:

• Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), whose mission is to “help people end their misery, not their lives”.
• James’ Place, which offers free treatment to men in suicidal crisis. Clare Milford Haven set it up in memory of her son.

“What Kit has raised for us will help over 20 men,” Milford Haven said.

Where to get support

If you are struggling, you can call Samaritans free on 116 123 in the UK and Ireland, at any time. In an emergency, call 999.

The founders of Andy’s Man Club also won a 2026 award for suicide prevention. See every 2026 Pride of Britain winner and regional finalist.