Hope you are doing well. I’m Matt Willer and from Saturday 31st July to Sunday 1st August I’m going to be walking 46 miles (74 km) along The Peddars Way, from Thetford to Holme-next-the-Sea, barefoot! 

In 2019, I founded The Papillon Project. Based in the East of England, The Papillon Project is an educational charity which works in secondary schools and colleges throughout Norfolk establishing school allotments. The way we see it, school is about so much more than passing exams. We work closely with young people to bring them closer to nature and experience the benefits of the great outdoors: growing food, developing manual skills and crafts, and learning about environmental awareness and sustainable living. 

Our school allotments are flourishing, but each one requires time and resources. Our volunteers are unpaid, so all money raised will go directly into our projects; from the necessary materials and equipment they require, to supporting teachers and teaching assistants with the supervision and maintenance of their allotment sites.

Why I’m going that extra barefooted mile…

By walking barefoot, I want to represent how we humans should tread carefully from now on when it comes to our relationship to nature, and the need to reduce our carbon footprint as soon as possible. I am also totally flatfooted and I was born with a talipes (twisted) right foot which corrected when I was young. Although both conditions certainly don't cause me any impediment, my right foot especially does almost always ache after a long walk!

You can learn more about the charitable work of The Papillon Project and the 20+ schools that we are privileged to work with on our website: www.thepapillonproject.com