Summer 2012
1200 miles
5 capital cities
3 months
1 amazing cause
Zero money
To mark the three month countdown to Peace One Day's Global Truce 2012, Maxim Laithwaite walked 1200 miles from Derry in Northern Ireland to London via Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff. Leaving shortly after the Peace One Day event on 21 June in Derry, the walk finished at Wembley Arena in London on 21 September 2012. That day, each year, is the United Nations' International Day of Peace which saw the largest reduction in violence the world has ever seen.
The kindness of strangers
Waterpilgrim
1200 miles
5 capital cities
3 months
1 amazing cause
Zero money
To mark the three month countdown to Peace One Day's Global Truce 2012, Maxim Laithwaite walked 1200 miles from Derry in Northern Ireland to London via Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff. Leaving shortly after the Peace One Day event on 21 June in Derry, the walk finished at Wembley Arena in London on 21 September 2012. That day, each year, is the United Nations' International Day of Peace which saw the largest reduction in violence the world has ever seen.
"Peace is not the final destination. Peace is the journey, and it begins with the first step. If we can achieve one day of non-violence in our homes and on the battlefields we will be able to get the aid to those in the hardest to reach places. And imagine if that happens. Imagine when those children say...'why not two days?" (Maxim, 23 Jan 2012)
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the epic 8000 mile walk that Satish Kumar began in 1962, Maxim walked without money and relied on the kindness of strangers for food and shelter.
"Placing the success of the journey in the hands of the communities and people along the journey highlights the same spirit that our societies need to find peace. It also raises important questions about the relationship between poverty and peace" (Maxim, 23 Jan 2012)
Waterpilgrim
In 2009, Maxim completed the South West Coast Path (630 miles) in order to raise awareness for local and global water issues. That walk was also completed as a penniless pilgrim and demonstrated that there are more important aspects to human society than money. There is a short film made by the BBC at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8248268.stm
