News

A vendor who saved a moped rider’s life is trekking 1,650 miles for charity

Garry Buchan is hoping to raise £2,000 by walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats this summer

Garry Buchan

Credit: Rebecca Bernstein

Big Issue vendor Garry Buchan has already attracted attention for his selfless deeds this year after leaping to the aid of a stricken moped rider in April.

Now, the Bristol vendor is hoping to walk an incredible 1,650 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats this summer to raise £2,000 for The Big Issue Foundation, our charitable arm.

He has already proven his trekking prowess by conquering the West Highland Way and the Great Glen in his native Scotland in 2016 in aid of charity Help for Heroes. He then went on to cover 190 miles last year to raise £495 for The Big Issue Foundation. But he’s now set himself the ambitious target of taking on five times that distance for his latest adventure, and will be setting off on August 1.

“It’s about letting people know that there’s a big problem with social exclusion and poverty and, even though I’m homeless myself, I just want to make a small difference,” said Garry, who was forced to sleep rough after he lost his job as a foreman of construction sites in Aberdeenshire. “I know that £2,000 isn’t a huge amount of money but the money I can raise for the Big Issue Foundation helps give people the chance to try and better their lives.”

Sponsor Garry for his challenge here.

Image: Rebecca Bernstein

Support the Big Issue

For over 30 years, the Big Issue has been committed to ending poverty in the UK. In 2024, our work is needed more than ever. Find out how you can support the Big Issue today.
Vendor martin Hawes

Recommended for you

View all
Village of 'beautiful homes' for homeless people to be built in Lanarkshire by Social Bite
Social Bite Josh Littlejohn
Homelessness

Village of 'beautiful homes' for homeless people to be built in Lanarkshire by Social Bite

Lesbian Visibility Week: There's 'enormous power' in being a lesbian – but stigma and shame persist
Lesbian Visibility Week

Lesbian Visibility Week: There's 'enormous power' in being a lesbian – but stigma and shame persist

Who owns the moon? How the lunar frontier could become the new Wild West 
Environment

Who owns the moon? How the lunar frontier could become the new Wild West 

Here's what happened when 1,000 smartphones and tablets were given to homeless people
Simon Community Scotland using devices to tackle digital inclusion and homelessness
Digital inclusion

Here's what happened when 1,000 smartphones and tablets were given to homeless people

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know