Power staff walk 900 miles for homeless veterans

  Posted by: electime      1st April 2026

Power staff, including veterans, put their best foot forward and walked over 900 miles taking nearly 2 million steps as part of a 48-hour nonstop relay over the Severn Bridge to raise more than £12,000 for homeless veterans.

Among the UK Power Networks staff was Royal Marine Reservist Michael Falcone from Thurston, near Bury St Edmunds, who decided to do far more than just walk with one of the six teams. He completed 78 miles with over 183,000 steps, walking for 42 hours from Friday night to Sunday with only a few hours’ sleep.

Michael said: “There was always someone walking across the bridge day or night, a four mile walk between England and Wales. It took about one hour 20 minutes each time. For me it became more of a personal challenge to see how far I could get.

“Helping Homeless Veterans UK is such a good cause. I met people from other parts of the company and veterans who have had help. It was tough towards the end when everyone was hurting, but it was a fantastic team effort and I would do it again.”

Former Army bomb disposal officer Sean Laidlaw, from Ipswich, took his three children along and his nine-year-old daughter, Eliza, wanted to do the night walks as well. She ended up walking 40 hours over the weekend.

Sean said: “I know how tough life after service can be. I struggled myself, at one point I was between homes, and it was only when I spoke up that I got the support I needed. That is the hardest part, asking for help.

“One thing this challenge really reinforces, especially in those 3am walks when everyone is tired and the barriers are down, is how much people carry and how important it is to talk.”

David Wood, founder of the charity said: “After five years of running the event, this has been the best yet. UK Power Networks has supported us for the second year running and the camaraderie and friendships that are formed makes the challenge even more special. To have veterans from the company taking part makes it unique.

“This year we had Mark and Joe who have been helped by our charity and it gave everyone a better understanding or why they were raising money to help rebuild lives. Special mention for Sean Laidlaw who made an app so people at home could follow the progress of all 48 walkers.”