This post is a shout out to one of my students Steven! Last week marked the year anniversary of him attending my Pilates classes and what an amazing journey it has been to witness and support. Having him attend classes weekly for the past year his dedication is an inspiration to us all, and having got to know him better over the past year reading his press release allowed me to understand his journey better. Pilates has helped to improve his posture, range of movement, core strength and mental health in order to achieve this venture and I am so grateful that he has trusted me within my classes to play a small part in his journey.
Please read below his press release for Acorns Children's Hospice Charity.
Fundraiser reveals epic 17 stone weight loss ahead of 1,880-mile
challenge for charity close to his heart.
You would think that trekking the world’s hottest desert for Acorns Children’s Hospice was
enough of a feat for Steven Duffield. But this is just the tip of the iceberg for the
Worcestershire resident, who not only lost 17 stone in less than a year, but is also hiking a
staggering 1,880 miles to raise even more money for the charity.
The inspiration behind his epic journey is his beloved niece, Meggie, who relies on the
critical support of Acorns for the Three Counties for rehabilitative respite care and family
services.
Steven, who moved to Kidderminster nearly three years ago, made the decision to change
his life two years ago. Once nearly 30 stone, what started as a commitment to improving his
health, became a remarkable 17 stone weight loss.
He explained: “When I started walking, it was just six miles in the first month – and that was
more than enough for me at the time. But I stuck at it, walking more and more and I’m now
up to 25 miles a day. As the weight fell off, my mental health improved drastically too. I
slowly began to feel like myself again.
“My dad, who we lost to dementia five years ago, was always fond of walking – so walking
makes me feel close to him too in many ways, and to appreciate life.”
Now, Steven is channelling his passion for walking and the outdoors to give back. Following
a trip to Tunisia, where he first experienced the beauty of the Sahara Desert, Steven eagerly
embraced the idea of trekking the Sahara. It was a slip of the tongue from his friend that
sparked an even bigger idea.
Steven said: “A friend of mine thought I was actually walking all the way from Kidderminster
to the Sahara! We had a good laugh when I explained the mix-up, but the idea stuck with me
– I couldn’t shake how incredible that challenge would be.
“Now, here I am. Whilst I’m not physically walking to the Sahara, I’m covering the exact
same distance, and hoping to raise even more money for Acorns because of it.”
In a full circle moment for Steven, he’s covering this distance of 1,880 miles along the same
local canals, nature reserves and trails where he first embarked on his remarkable weight
loss journey, transforming both his physical health and mental wellbeing.
For Steven, this whole endeavour is deeply personal. His 11-year-old niece, Meggie, has a
highly complex, rare and life limiting chromosome disorder known as Trisomy 9 mosaic
syndrome. This means she requires permanent care, is non-verbal, unable to take solid
food, has a compromised immune system and was born with several of her major organs
twisted, fused and in the wrong place.
Steven explained: “Acorns has been a lifeline for my sister and her family. It’s about more
than just Meggie – they care for the whole family, including her twin brother, through sibling
groups and family fun days.”
“When Meggie stays overnight at the hospice, she not only gets to enjoy herself, but her
mum and dad can also get some much-needed rest, knowing she’s in expert hands.”
Since the beginning of February, Steven has been walking up six hours every day carrying a
30lb backpack, aiming to cover all 1,880 miles before the Sahara trek in October – that’s
over 72 marathons and more than 4.2 million steps. “It’s going to take a few pairs of
trainers!”, he added.
Steven is also spreading awareness with his very own business cards explaining his
challenge and the work Acorns does, complete with a QR code linking to his JustGiving
page. He’s even reaching out to local businesses and planning a summer music festival to
raise additional funds for the charity. His target is £4,000, though he hopes to surpass it.
“I’m doing everything I can because I understand firsthand what families like mine go
through,” Steven said. “Living with Meggie, I see every day how poorly she is and the reality
of having a child with a life limiting condition. I’ve watched her go in and out of hospital,
never knowing one day to the next if she would make it.”
He added: “Whenever I’m out walking and my feet start to ache or the rain’s pouring down, I
just think about Meggie and other children at Acorns. It’s a powerful reminder that any
discomfort I feel is nothing compared to what they go through.”
As October approaches, Steven is determined to raise as much awareness and funds as
possible for Acorns while honouring Meggie and other children like her. His journey is a
testament to resilience, hope, and the power of giving back.
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for babies, children and young
people with life limiting and life threatening conditions, and support for their families.
In the past year, the charity has cared for more than 780 children across the West Midlands,
and supported over 1,000 families, including those who are bereaved. Children visit Acorns
for rehabilitative respite, symptom management, emergency and end-of-life care.
This care and support is provided from Acorns three hospices, based in Birmingham, Walsall
and Worcester, and in the community.
Acorns needs around £35,000 each day to provide its children’s hospice care, with two thirds
of that amount coming from generous donations and fundraising by the local community.
To support Steven and make a donation, visit his JustGiving page. To find out more about
how Acorns provides lifeline care and support for children and families like Meggie’s, visit
If you would like to donate or support Steven on his journey please follow the link below:
I wanted to share this post not only to show my support but to also help us all connect deeper on a human level. We may see familiar faces within classes, daily, weekly, monthly or yearly and we never know what those people are experiencing.
This is our reminder to be kind, lift others up and as you take care of yourself it shines a light into this world and can inspire others.
Thank you for reading,
V x
Lovely write-up, but no link to make a donation. I looked at justgiving but couldn't find it.