How to take part
1. Sign up for free and get your t-shirt in the post
2. Choose your distance, route, and date
3. Set up a JustGiving page
Everyone who raises £100 or more will receive an exclusive Walk of Life medal!
Walk of Life – your way!
1 May 2026 - 31 May 2026
Free
Do it your way for Royal United Hospitals Bath!
Organise your own walk any time in May. Choose a place, route and distance that works for you, gather your friends and family, and join the Walk of Life – your way!
The Walk of Life is a celebration, for loved ones and for those who cared for them. Whatever your reasons for walking, you’ll be supporting your local hospital to do more for everyone who needs it.
Whether it’s 5km on the 17th or a mile a day in May, however you walk, you won’t be doing it alone.
This is more than just a walk. This is a walk for everyone in Bath, Wiltshire and beyond.
Since it began in 2005, the Walk of Life has raised over £800,000 for RUH Bath, thanks to your support. Now in its 20th year, the Walk of Life has made a real life impact for patients, families, and our extraordinary hospital staff.
Sign up to do it your way
Date: any day (or several days) in May 2026
Distance: you choose
Location: you choose
Registration fee: free
Try to raise: £100
Click here to join the in person event on Saturday 23 May instead.
FAQs
20 stories for 20 years
ExpandHide
The Walk of Life was started by Vanessa Kyte (Ness) who died on 15th November 2007, seven years after first being diagnosed with breast cancer which developed into secondary lung cancer and brain tumours. Her passion for fundraising sparked her and her sister Nicola to begin the Walk of Life in 2005, and it has developed and grown ever since into the beautiful celebration that it is today with thousands of walkers stepping out for an incredible cause. The Walk of Life remembers Ness with our volunteer run ‘GoodNess’ stops along the way.
Whether you’re walking in memory of a friend or family member, to celebrate yours or your loved one’s recovery at the RUH, or to say thank you to the incredible RUH staff, this is a walk for all lives.
Have you taken part in the Walk of Life before or is this your first walk? Could you share your reasons for walking for our ’20 stories for 20 years’ series? Please get in touch by emailing fundraising@ruhx.org.uk or by filling out our short story form.
What do I get for taking part?
ExpandHide
By taking part in the Walk of Life – your way!, you’ll get:
• An RUHX t-shirt
• A dedication back sign to let everyone know who you’re walking for
• A Walk of Life finishers medal if you raise £100 or more
• All the fundraising materials and support you need
• The pride of helping your local hospital do more
Where does my sponsorship go?
ExpandHide
The funds raised from the Walk of Life will make a real-life impact. Every penny goes towards life-changing projects at the RUH, such as:
• providing state-of-the-art equipment
• providing facilities for loved ones to be with patients
• transforming hospital wards
• funding life changing research and innovative technologies
• providing mental health first aid training to staff
• arts programmes for children and older people on our wards
With your help, we can make our care extra extraordinary for every patient and support our hospital staff to do what they do best. We couldn’t do it without your exceptional support.
Can I take part as a team?
ExpandHide
Yes! The Walk of Life is even more fun when friends and family join you. Fundraising as a team is a great way to raise even more and you can do this together on one fundraising page.
The Walk is an amazing team bonding experience, made even better by the difference you’ll be making to your local community.
The virtual Walk of Life – your way! is free for everyone to enter.
Can I take part in the in person event instead?
ExpandHide
The Walk of Life – your way! is a virtual challenge and entry cannot be transferred to our in person event on Saturday 23 May.
To register for the in person event instead, please click here to sign up and pay the registration fee.
Terms & conditions
ExpandHide
Please read the Terms & Conditions here.
“Every year for the last eleven I have always felt a belonging with all that take part, knowing that you are all walking for the same charity but all have different feelings. It is an amazing feeling to be a part of this fantastic walk.”
