Thatcham UK teenager walking 1,000 miles for vegan charity Viva!

From newburytoday.co.uk

AN Ashmore Green teenager is going the distance to help shed light on animal welfare.

Henry Read-Denness set himself the goal of walking 1,000 miles in six months for Viva! a vegan campaigning charity, specialising in undercover investigations and high-profile animal campaigns.

The 14-year-old started his challenge in February and has covered more than 370 miles so far, walking five to 10 miles every day.

He said: "I'm aiming to keep it at six months, but at the rate I'm going now I should complete it in five months."

Henry, who attends Trinity School in Newbury, went from vegetarian to vegan a year and a half ago.

Henry said that he chose Viva! as he was "quite passionate about the animals and I don't like the way that they are treated in the UK at the moment."

Henry Read-Denness walking 1000 miles for charity walking with Bear age 7months.

Picture by Phil Cannings

He added that the charity had helped his commitment by showing the impact of veganism on health, environment and animals.

Henry is also fasting between 9am and 5pm once a week "to demonstrate the long period of time animals goes without food and water when taken to the slaughterhouse."

He said that the fasting had not impacted his walking challenge.

"It's not too hard," he said. "The fasting for food is fine but it's the drink because I usually drink quite a lot."

Henry has raised £160 of his £300 target and donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/henry-read1

Henry's mother Sarah Wytrykowski said: "His dedication and determination is unbelievable. Most children don't walk 10 miles in a week, Henry is walking over that every day.

"He's already walked his way through two pairs of shoes, one pair of trainers and one pair of school shoes. It's very difficult trying to get shoes for a vegan but Doc Martens do them.

"He's one of the eco-warriors, we should all be saving the planet and being generally kind to animals. He started being a vegetarian and decided to go full vegan.

"I just think it's amazing, his determination to do it every single day. He walks to and from school and then he does a few extra. It's kind of in his nature, he's a very determined person."

https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/teenager-on-fundraising-walk-for-vegan-charity-9197017/