Thursday July 17th 2025
Matt Cameron on his 398-mile charity walk
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
The new Partnership Executive for the Midlothian and East Lothian Chamber of Commerce walked 398-miles solo in May to raise money for suicide prevention and postvention charity The Canmore Trust.
Matt Cameron began his walk on the 8th of May, setting off from Edinburgh Castle and aiming to reach the summit of Scotland’s most northerly Munro, Ben Hope. Being the first solo walk from Edinburgh to Ben Hope, Matt took on the challenge to raise money for the charity close to his heart alongside encourage conversation around suicide, grief and mental health.
His journey took 24 days, reaching Ben Hope’s summit on the 31st of May. Setting off on his first day, walking along the Union Canal, his total route spanned a wide range of terrain from city pavements to remote mountain passes but moments of generosity from strangers and self-reflection is, as he described, what pushed him through.
“I moved to Scotland from Australia back in 2016, and this place has become home. The walk gave me a whole new appreciation for just how stunning and dramatic this country can be”, Matt explained.
“I left Edinburgh Castle on May 8th, heading out along the Union Canal with 24 days of unknowns ahead of me. On May 31st, I stood on top of Ben Hope. What started as an idea in my head had become something real. Seeing the path I’d travelled laid out behind me… it was pretty overwhelming.”
“The total route spanned a wide range of terrain, from city pavements and farmland to remote mountain passes and moorland. I was met with the generosity from strangers, moments of quiet and natural beauty along the way. What stuck with me the most wasn’t the distance, it was how many people showed up to walk beside me in their own way.”
Matt in Fort William
Matt explained that he does not come from any outdoors or hillwalking background, being very new to the challenges of Munros. Despite this, his walk was completely un-supported with all his gear carried in his backpack, making the challenge both physically and mentally unfamiliar to him.
He embarked on his journey to raise money for The Canmore Trust, a charity close to his heart. The Canmore Trust is a Scottish suicide prevention and postvention charity that support people, communities and workplaces affected by suicide, who help not just in the moment of grief but long after. The charity’s CEO, John Gibson, sadly lost his son to suicide, now focusing on holding a space for the people left behind and supporting people struggling with suicide.
Matt explained his motivations behind the walk, saying, “I almost lost myself to suicide back in 2019. That’s why I care and when the idea for this walk came to me, I couldn’t shake it. It felt like something I had to do.”
The walk raised over £4000 with more than 100 individual donations, alongside sparking important conversations surrounding mental health and what it means to take on meaningful personal challenges.
Two months on, Matt explained that the walk sometimes doesn’t feel real but taught him valuable lessons.
“It still doesn’t feel real sometimes. But I think about it often, not just the walk but what it taught me. There was clarity in the simplicity of each day. No emails, no distractions, just movement and purpose. I came home with a quieter mind and a strong belief in what I’m capable of.”
After returning Matt joined the Midlothian and East Lothian Chamber of Commerce, becoming the chamber’s Partnership Executive. The Midlothian and East Lothian Chamber of Commerce is the region’s leading independent business support and networking organisation, representing both SMEs and larger corporate organisations in Midlothian and East Lothian.
With the success of Matt’s fundraising walk, he has already begun thinking of how he can go ‘bigger and better next year’. Planning his own fundraising event or helping other people take on meaningful charity challenges of their own, Matt is planning to continue to help charities close to his heart.
His time spent walking towards Ben Hope did not only raise money for the mental health charity but also allowed Matt to work on himself.
“Strength, I’ve realised, isn’t just about pushing through, it’s about knowing when to pause”, he explained, “Over 398 miles, I dealt with pain, exhaustion and doubt but the most important thing I did each day was stop. Whether it was for a proper break or to call it a day, choosing to pause was just vital.”
“That’s what made finishing possible, not constant motion but knowing when to hold back so I could keep moving forwards.”
Aside from the money raised, the walk encouraged many conversations surrounding mental health with Matt achieving his goal of raising both money for The Canmore Trust and sparking discussion surrounding suicide and mental health issues.
“We’re all carrying something. And if we can talk more openly about that and remind each other that it’s okay to stop sometimes, I reckon we’ll all get a little further.”
Raising an incredible £4065, Matt’s fundraiser is still open for donations.
Click here for information on how to donate.
Tweet Share on Facebook
