Follow Simon and Ollie’s Magic Walk Final Update Aug 9

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The Finish Line – View on YouTube /  View the IG video

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Don’t Stop Him Now: Queen collaborator retraces the band’s footsteps on epic 286-mile charity walk for the Mercury Phoenix Trust.

As of August 9, the Magic Walk has raised £8,088, please continue donating a few more days!

Donate at: GoFundMe.com – The Magic Walk  >>  https://gofund.me/505f89645

August 9, 2026 – THEY MADE IT!!! View on YouTube /  View the IG video

Day Fifteen Summary:
Simon and Ollie started in Harpenden at High Street on this final day of the walk. The final walk went via Kimpton to Knebworth House at The Concert Field. The Magic Walks shortest day, only about 14km. We got the last bad jokes from the locals along the walk. A final plea to raise funds for the charity, so if you can spare a pound or more, please donate. We got an emotional video of the lads crossing the finish line after walking 466.5km in 15 days. To put it in perspective that equals 11 – ELEVEN full marathons. No wonder the crowd was singing “We Are The Champions”, as they crossed the line. Both Simon and Ollie received a well deserved Certificate of Achievement from Mercury Phoenix Trust. A few hours later they posted a Thank You video to everyone that has supported them, family, old friends and new friends they met becoming friends for life. Words really does not cover this monumental task, but for sure you have written yourself into a piece of Queen history. Thank you lads, it’s been a pleasure following you all these 15 days.

Day Fourteen Summary:
Simon and Ollie started in Amersham at Sycamore Road. The route went via Bovingdon, Hemel Hempstead and Redbourn to Harpenden at High Street. A total of about 27km on this day 14 of the walk. Today became a day of reflections and a sense of achievement. So close to the target of the walk. Simon’s sister Sarah and neighbour Paul joined for the walk. On the way they also picked up Allison wearing a Queen Face It Alone t-shirt, but no need to face this alone on the final stretches. Simon, Sarah and Ollie also reflected of their dear father/granddad who was so supportive of this idea when it was tossed around a few years back. Unfortunately, he never got to see this, but he was with them in spirit the whole way. One last night of sleep and the final few steps are coming up.

Day Thirteen Summary:
Simon and Ollie started in Twyford at Wargrave Road then walked to Warren Row, Bourne End and Winchmore Hill before ending in Amersham at Sycamore Road. The day started off with a bit of bad news, as Ollie had to drop by the doctors after having developed pain in his back. Simon motored on alone, but not too long after Ollie caught back up with him. Another milestone and beautiful view when the lads crossed into Buckinghamshire. They met up with nephew Elliot and some intense movie discussions followed and the idea of creating a challenge for the followers of the walk. So if your up to it, please post a photo of yourself in a Queen t-shirt on Instagram and tag luppers71. The daily pub stop picked up Jonathan from the Red Special group to walk with them until a very late finish at Amersham Station on the London Tube, yes a bit weird to see that on the walk. Also, we now aim to cross the finish line at 13:45 instead of 14:00, as BBC would like to cover the crossing live and requested it, so please come early. But now, a rest, goodnight.

Day Twelve Summary:
Simon and Ollie started in Heathrow Copse at Brompton Road and went via Burghfield Common, Reading and Woodley to Twyford at Wargrave Road. Quite a short walk by Ollie and Simon’s standards, with “only” 27.5 km covered. Quite a crowd following the lads the whole way on todays walk. We had Emma, Simon’s mentor extraordinaire, Cat from Mercury Phoenix Trust and other family and friends. As Simon said Another Day Bites The Dust and Ollie piping in with another milestone crossed (over the M4).

Day Eleven Summary:
Simon and Ollie started in Andover at Bridge Street and walked via Egbury, Watership Town and Kingsclere to Tadley at Almswood Road (almost) . A total of almost 35 km kilometer walked today as they cut it a bit short Ollie and Simon on this day 11 of the walk. You won’t believe it, but stopping at a field and suddenly it was a Dragon Attack, luckily they didn’t get a Dragon on their Back, as it did not notice them. A tradition is developing after the Mickey D fiasco a few days back. A well deserved stop at a Pub for a meal. Today they got joined by both new and old friends and the support is much appreciated. Keep it coming.

Day Ten Summary:
Simon and Ollie started in Wilton at West Street via Salisbury, then Idmiston and Grateley before reaching Andover at Bridge Street. A total of 35 km walked on this day 10 of the walk. Another milestone was reached as we now are in Hampshire, only 3 more counties to go. The lads had a surprise voice message from Roger and Sarina today, which energized them even more. As mentioned yesterday, their plans involve inviting you all to the Knebworth House for a sit down on the concert field a raise a glass for Freddie. Reaching Knebworth coincide with the 40th anniversary of Queen playing there, and as Roger mentioned today, the lads are making it to Knebworth far faster than Queen ever did. Keep supporting their cause and let’s smash that goal.

Day Nine Summary:
Simon and Ollie started Day 9 in Stour Row at Dover Street and went via Shaftesbury and Cranborne Chase National Landscape to Wilton at West Street. A total of 33.2 km. Today went substantially better than yesterday and another milestone was reached as they crossed from Dorsey to Wiltshire. The morning was spent doing an interview with BBC Wiltshire before the walk started. Halfway through the day, the lads in an inspirational boost to their steps, had Brian himself calling in with some encouraging words. Much appreciated. Double digits in days coming up tomorrow.

Day Eight Summary:
Simon and Ollie started Day 8 in Ilchester at Church Street via Marston Magne and Templecombe to Stour Row at Dover Street. It was a bit of a “hump day” the first half of the day as both Simon and Ollie felt depleted. The mood changed though when their family and friends showed up half way through the day at no other place than the Queens Arms pub in Corton Denham. They also got some company by Nick a long time Queen fan that had waited 6 hours to catch up with them and enjoy some walking. And of course, huge milestone today, Half Way to Knebworth. And we wonder what the surprise they are planning for at Knebworth is?

Day Seven Summary:
Simon and Ollie started Day 7 in Chard at High Street and walked via Cudworth then Lopen and  Stoke-Sub-Hamdon before ending up in Ilchester at Church Street. During the walk Simon took a break to get interviewed by BBC Somerset (by phone). In addition the lads got chased by a herd of cows and Ollie rescued a chicken that had gotten out of it’s ben. These Are The Days of Their Lives for sure.

Day Six Summary:
Simon and Ollie started Day 6 at 8:30am from Exeter Airport and goes via West Hill / Honiton/ Stockland to Chard at High Street. This is actually the longest day of the whole trip with a whopping 42.2 kilometers to walk or a full marathon if you want. As they said, it was a beast of a day. Everything hurts, but they are very pleased that this one is over. Last 5 kilometers were walked in darkness. What an effort! 

Day Five Summary:
Simon and Ollie started Day 5 of their walk at 10:30am outside the Co-Op in Moretonhampstead at Court Street. the walk went Doccumbe / Dunsford / Longdown on mostly small sideroads to Exeter Airport. Day 5’s route was 30.6 kilometer. Todays walk was much better and Simon noted there’s a trend with the day after a grueling day, being much easier. Another milestone was reached in passing into Devon and also having less than 200 miles left. As Ollie said, we’re on the home stretch, well maybe not yet… Having said that, a new milestone crossing under M5, the first of 5 motorway crossings. We can also mention that the fundraising goal of 5,000 pounds were passed today, so keep on donating and let’s crush that goal.

Day Four Summary:
Simon and Ollie started Day 4 of their walk in Tavistock 9:30am at the Dolvin Road / Vigo Bridge Road junction. Today’s route went through Dartmoor National Park without seeing a single person, ending in Mortonhampstead at Court Street. The walk was 37.8 kilometer, so a long one. And so it was, more like an Ogre Battle, “sprinting” towards the end to make the closing hours of the local grocery store at 10pm. They barely made it. Two very tired lads after 12 hours on the road. 

Day Three Summary:
Simon and Ollie started Day 3 of their walk in Liskeard at Barras Street. Their route went via Pengover Green / St. Ive / Callington / Gunnislake to The Meadows at Tavistock Park for a total of 29.5km. Rather than yesterday, the lads were Doin’ Alright today, with no major mishaps, apart from a tracker that went offline towards the end. A milestone was reached today as Simon and Ollie crossed from Cornwall into West Devon. Well done.

Day Two Summary:
Simon and Ollie started Day 2 of their walk outside AFC St. Austell at Trevarthian Road. Todays route went via St. Blazey / Lostwithiel / Trevelmond to Liskeard. The day became a bit of a wakeup call for , as the lads took a wrong turn which made the original 33.4km walk become almost 39km, but as we know they Never Looked Back, Never Feared, Never Cried. Two tired lads last night, but they made it.

Day One Summary:
Simon and Ollie started their walk from Truro City Hall today at 2:30pm after a train ride to Truro. Their walk went via Tresillian / A390 / Hewas Water and after a 25.5km walk they arrived in St. Austell.

Progress Photos:

 

Why is Simon and Ollie taking this walk?