Walk of Life 2025

• An RUHX t-shirt to wear on the day
• All the fundraising materials and support you’ll need to smash your target
• A dedication back sign to let everyone know who you’re walking for
• Water and snacks along the way at our ‘GoodNess’ stops
• Free lunchtime BBQ
• A Walk of Life finishers medal and finish line photo
• The pride of helping your local hospital do more

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.

Exact timings will be published 1 month before the event. As a guide, the 16 miles and marathon distance will set off at 8am from Bishops Cannings and the 10 mile distance will set off at 1pm from Bradford on Avon. Walkers will be asked to arrive 30 minutes before the start time, with sent final information sent nearer the time of the event.

The Walk of Life wouldn’t be possible without our extraordinary volunteers. We need your help to look after our GoodNess stops, marshal the route, and cheer on our walkers as they cross the finish line. Click here to fill in our enquiry form

The Walk of Life takes you on a scenic journey down the Kennet & Avon canal towpath. There are three distance options along the canal:

• 26.2 miles / marathon (all day) – starting at The Crown Inn in Bishops Cannings, near Devizes, following the canal all the way to The Holburne Museum in Bath
• 16 miles (morning only) – starting in Bishops Cannings with our marathon walkers and finishing at the lunchtime stop at Victory Field in Bradford-on-Avon
• 10 miles (afternoon only) – starting at our lunchtime stop in Bradford-on-Avon and joining marathon walkers to Bath

From stunning countryside to historic aqueducts, there is plenty to spot along the way as you enjoy your day and complete your challenge.

Yes! The Walk of Life is even more fun when friends, family or colleagues join you. Fundraising as a team is a great way to raise even more. We ask that you still aim to raise £100 per person in your team.

The Walk is an amazing team bonding experience, made even better by the difference you’ll be making to your local community.

The Walk of Life is a walking only event. The timings of the event are not suitable for runners as refreshment stops may not be set up in time.

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.