The Big Walk 2026 - itinerary
Are you ready to be a part of the University's biggest fundraising event? Join us on Friday 3 July 2026 to fundraise to save young lungs at the University of Sheffield.
What do I get for signing up?
By booking your place at the Big Walk, you'll receive:
- Entry to the Big Walk 2026 on Friday 3 July 2026 - this includes access to bespoke briefing notes in the run up to the event and support on the day
- Your Big Walk 2026 fundraising t-shirt and medal
- A packed lunch (please bring additional food as required)
- Snacks along the way
- A celebratory drink and hot food options at The Edge finish line
- Transport to the start of the event
Big Walk 2026 walker briefing
The walker briefing will be taking place on Tuesday 30 June at St George's Church, St George's Terrace, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 4DP. (Timings to come).
20-mile (32.8 km) route
Starting at the Strines Inn, the route follows along Derwent and Stanage Edges before finally returning you along the scenic Porter Valley for a hero's return at Endcliffe Village: a hot meal and a well earned medal!
OS map and route card coming soon.
Schedule for the day
This may change prior to the event. More information to come.
| 8:20 | Coach leaves from the Octagon to start line |
| 8:50 - 9:15 | Registration at Strines Inn |
| 9:15 | 20-mile Big Walk begins! |
| From 17:30 | Dinner and celebratory drink at the finish line, The Edge |
| 21:30 | Last walkers to arrive at The Edge |
30-mile (48 km) route
Starting at Rivelin Valley Park, take on a full-day adventure through Rocher Wood, winding into the striking heights of Derwent Edge. You’ll conquer Stanage Edge, following the scenic trail past Ringinglow, before arriving at Endcliffe Village for a well deserved hot meal and celebratory drink.
OS map and route card coming soon.
Schedule for the day
This may change prior to the event. More information to come.
| 7:45 | Coach leaves campus to start line |
| 8:05 - 8:15 | Registration at Rivelin |
| 8:15 | 30-mile Big Walk begins! |
| From 17:30 | Dinner and a celebratory drink at the finish line, The Edge |
| 21:30 | Last walkers to arrive at The Edge |
Dates for your diary
Friday 29 May: Deadline to sign up
Friday 29 May: Deadline to swap routes
Tuesday 30 June: Walker & Volunteer Briefing at St George’s Church, St George's Terrace, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 4DP
Friday 3 July: The Big Walk!
Big Walk equipment - things to bring with you
Main rules of thumb:
- Look at the weather forecast and come prepared
- Steer clear of all things cotton - no jeans!
- Whatever you use, make sure it’s comfortable
You'll need:
- Day sack (lined with a plastic bag)
- Water bottle with at least 1 to 2 litres of water (more if especially hot)
- Sunscreen and hat
- Waterproof jacket and trousers for a wet forecast.
- Spare warm top
- Comfortable walking boots / shoes - there are some steep ascents and hard terrain (especially the 30m!) so bear this in mind when choosing your footwear
- Pair of spare socks
- Personal First Aid kit
- Mobile phone
- Food/snacks - snacks will be provided at several marshal points but be sure to bring enough food to keep you going until lunch and the finish line!
Optional items if you have them:
- OS Map sheets of the area
- Walking poles
The risk assessment for this event will be circulated with the Big Walk 2025 briefings.
Big Walk Will's training walks
Will, our Big Walk route planner, has put together a series of practice walks to get you fit and prepared ready for 3 July. Familiarise yourself with the route with this set of cracking practice walks.
Big Walk Will's training walks
Fundraising to save young lungs
Support the Big Walk 2026 at the University of Sheffield and you’ll help find answers for children fighting a battle with an invisible opponent—lung disease.
- One in three babies born before 32 weeks is at risk of developing a chronic, life limiting lung disease.
- Over 11,000 people in the UK live with cystic fibrosis.
- Asthma affects 1 in 11 children in the UK, with many more remaining undiagnosed and vulnerable due to difficulty testing children under 5.
Standard tests like CT scans are unsafe for children due to radiation, so there’s currently no way to see inside children’s lungs and get to the bottom of conditions like asthma, bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis. And parents of premature babies are often left in the dark, unsure if their babies’ lungs are working well enough to be removed from ventilators.
And even when premature babies go home, the uncertainty never goes away. Some families endure years of nightly coughing fits, never knowing if they will end up back in hospital. The Insigneo Institute at the University of Sheffield has developed a breakthrough way of seeing inside children’s lungs that replaces guesswork with clear treatment plans. By using existing MRI technology and a special form of xenon gas, doctors are now able to see children’s lungs in incredible detail. And the process is completely safe and non-invasive.
But we need your help to expand this research, testing it on more lung conditions and getting it into the hands of doctors across the country to help more children. Early diagnosis means better treatment that will reduce long-term damage for children with lung disease. Helping them to live happier and healthier lives.
Every step you take and every pound you raise will directly fund life-changing research, ending the silent struggle of children battling the unknown.
And thanks to a generous donor, all fundraising up to £75,000 will be matched, meaning you’ll have double the impact.
Your support means these brave children, already fighting significant lung conditions, can be diagnosed safely. And every mile you conquer will help lift the burden of fear from a parents’ shoulders.
The Insigneo Institute aims to drive innovative research at the interface of healthcare, engineering and science to transform the future of healthcare technology. And bring vital breakthroughs that will change lives.
For more information on the Insigneo Institute, please see our website: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/insigneo
Read the Big Walk 2026 Fundraising Guide.
Once you've bought your place, follow our instructions to set up your JustGiving page.