More than 400 walkers conquered a challenging trek through the Peak District to raise a record-breaking sum for life-saving children’s lung research at the University of Sheffield
- This year’s University of Sheffield’s Big Walk has broken its fundraising record, raising £165,824 to support pioneering research that is revolutionising paediatric respiratory care
- More than 400 walkers embarked on a choice of either a 20 mile or 30 mile challenging route through the Peak District
- Funds raised will support groundbreaking imaging technology which is making scans safer and more accurate for children with lung conditions
- One in three premature babies are at risk of chronic lung disease, with asthma and cystic fibrosis affecting millions more children worldwide
More than 400 walkers conquered a challenging trek through the Peak District to raise a record-breaking sum for life-saving children’s lung research at the University of Sheffield.
The Big Walk 2026 saw 402 staff, alumni and friends of the University lace up their walking boots to support groundbreaking research that is transforming how respiratory conditions are diagnosed and monitored in children.
Assisted and marshalled by an 82-strong team of volunteers, this year’s Big Walkers embarked on a choice of two challenging routes, 20 miles, or 30 miles, through some of the finest scenery the Peak District has to offer.
A total of £165,824 is the highest ever raised by the event, thanks in part to the generous match funding provided by friends of the University Graham and Sue Royle, whose remarkable support doubled the impact of donations for this life-changing research.
Funds raised will go towards new imaging technology that is revolutionising paediatric respiratory care, making scans safer and more accurate for children with lung conditions. Lung disease is an invisible crisis, yet standard tests like spirometry and CT scans are often hard to perform or unsafe for children due to ionising radiation.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield are developing breakthrough radiation-free MRI techniques that provide clinicians with clear, real-time images of the lungs. The technology has the potential to improve the diagnosis and treatment of childhood respiratory conditions, personalise care for children with cystic fibrosis and reduce uncertainty for families and clinicians.
Sylvie Cassou, a Teaching Associate in French Studies at the University of Sheffield, knows first-hand how vital this research could be for families in similar situations. Her twins, Alice and Alexandre, were delivered by emergency caesarean at just 27 weeks and needed ventilation support to help them breathe. Research like this could help improve care for future cases like theirs.
She said: “When you’ve been through such an isolating and frightening experience, seeing a whole community come together in support is incredibly powerful. It reminds us that we’re not alone and that people genuinely care. Being part of that collective effort turns a very personal journey into something that can help others.
“Our twins came home from the neonatal unit on oxygen at four months old. It was a long journey, a constant waiting game with every decision guided by regular oxygen saturation readings. Our son was able to come off oxygen at six months old, while our daughter needed it until she was almost two years old. It gives us hope to know that radiation-free imaging can make this journey a little easier for future families, giving them answers sooner and helping to reduce some of the uncertainty.”
Professor Jim Wild, Executive Director of the University of Sheffield’s Insigneo Institute, said: “We’ve been very active in developing the technology and using it to understand lung diseases in children and adults in Sheffield. The Big Walk is building on that research to make more clinical impact. The cause is really important to young people in this region, we’ve got a lot of paediatric lung disease, and the research is nationally important too.
“This year the funds raised will help clinically translate the lung imaging technology we’ve developed, working in partnership with Sheffield Children’s Hospital. Multidisciplinary research is the most stimulating part of what we do, and having a clinical application at the end gives it real purpose.”
The first walkers crossed the finish line at The Edge at 12:45pm, with the last arriving at 9:23pm after an impressive effort.
Sheffield MP Abtisam Mohamed was at the finish line to present participants with their medals, handcrafted by students at iForge, the UK’s first student-led makerspace. Each year, students generously volunteer their time to create the unique wooden medals, making every finisher’s award a special memento of the event.
Abtisam Mohamed, the Labour MP for Sheffield Central, said: “It was great to be at the Big Walk this year to celebrate and support the amazing people who have crossed the finish line, making a huge difference for young lungs.
“Our city is home to not only the University of Sheffield, that is raising money and delivering this life-changing childhood lung disease research. Sheffield is home to the people who are taking part, people who are donating to this great cause, and our world-leading hospitals who care for people every second of every day. The Big Walk showcased the best of what Sheffield is all about: coming together to help those who need it most, celebrating our strengths and making a difference.”
Individuals are still able to add their own support via donation which can still be made on the Big Walk 2026 JustGiving page.
To find out more about the Big Walk, visit: The Big Walk 2026: Saving Young Lungs | Giving | The University of Sheffield
