Oldham Walking Group To Take On 100 Mile Walking Campaign

Members of the award-winning Failsworth Walking Group will be embarking on an epic 100-mile walk in Camino de Santiago in Spain.

For the upcoming 100-mile campaign to take place between 21 May – 30 May, the self-funded group of 43 will raise money for three charities including for bowel cancer awareness, MIND and brain tumour awareness. 

They have raised £3,000 so far, but they expect to raise more.

Ann Garside started the group just before the COVID lockdown.

She said: “It was an absolute godsend during the lockdown. I started it in November 2019. We had to manage all the COVID precautions as people wanted to get out walking.

“I used to go walking with friends, but over time they stopped. I just wanted to carry on walking. I love it. I love the outdoors. In the end I thought, ‘why not try and get some people together and do walks?’

“I set up the group expecting about 20 people. Now, we have over 2,000 members. Some members like to hike on the weekend in the Peak District and Greenfield among other locations,” she added.

There are many walkers who like to stay local. Others like to street walk. The group launched virtual walking which is for people that can’t get out of their houses, usually the elderly or the infirm. 

“For virtual audiences, I film walks which are then edited and uploaded. Someone can then view the video and walk with us from the comfort of their home,” Garside said, “They can march on the spot and take sitting breaks. It’s also good for people with Alzheimer’s as it helps with brain stimulation.”

The group has grown and become well known nationally and internationally. They have walkers who travel from Lincoln, Coventry and even Blackpool.

Now, they have a great reputation. They do hikes at the Peaks, the Dales, Wales and Derbyshire. They keep walks within a 45-minute drive window because of the price of fuel. They also encourage the use of public transport. 90 percent of members are from Oldham.

Walk leaders are trained in mental health, suicide, first aid and navigation skills. 

They have won the Prestige award for best community group. Then, Garside was invited to the King’s Garden Party in June 2025 for services to the community.

There are a lot of health benefits of walking including for mental health. Garside said they have had people in the group who were on medication for stress, depression and diabetes. Through walking they were able to reduce the doses and even come of medication all together.

She added: “We are trying to get more people walking especially people who are affected by social isolation or mental health issues.”

One walker, Dave, who joined in March last year said: “I was really unfit, I really didn’t go out much and since then I have miles and miles in my legs, and I look forward to meeting people once a week. I have come on leaps and bounds.”