Jane Hornsby from Oxford Playhouse looks back on a hilly trek from top to toe of the UK to bring drama to the neediest

I set off on a journey of 1,187 miles on foot, from Land’s End to John O’Groats, to raise funds for Oxford Playhouse’s work with children and communities. By the time I reached my destination last Thursday, I had been walking for over two months without a day off, through the British wilderness and weather the entire way.

I rather like walking but this was something else entirely, and preparing for it was anything but peaceful. Sorting out the route, the accommodation, thinking about food, carrying enough water, boots falling to bits, how to handle injuries – the list of things I’ve had to consider is endless.

So why did I want to do it? I see the benefits drama brings to people every day, be it through laughter, tears, a shared experience or just a very good story. I can access the theatre anytime but there are many, many people who can’t do that. To help address this Oxford Playhouse takes theatre out and about to audiences with its Playhouse Plays Out Tent. It goes to fetes, carnivals, schools, open days and lots more community events and puts on free plays for anyone who is there. This is a wonderful initiative but it needs to be paid for and that’s why I am doing the walk: to enable the tent to tour again in the summer of 2015.

I have been overwhelmed by the support and generosity of everyone, both at home and those I have met on the road. For instance I have knocked on doors to ask for some water and been invited in for tea, have been cheered on by a couple of builders standing on some scaffolding who asked what I was doing, had my hand shaken by serious racing cyclists who heard what I was attempting, not to mention my family who have driven around the country to top up my supplies and keep my spirits up. The examples are endless.

It has also been frustrating at times. I haven’t been able to contact people for much of this walk as there has been no signal. An injured foot meant I was forced to cycle instead of walk for a day or two. I also never knew there were so many hills in England. As soon as you get up one you have to come down again, and that goes on all day. The Scottish Highlands are beautiful, but walking there was most demanding of all, and I did ten to 12-hour days.

If my husband ever lets me agree to do something like this again, it’s a divorce!

But it’s all been worth it for a good cause I’m aiming to raise £20,000 from this trek, and every penny I make will be matched by other funding from the Arts Council.

To show your support, please visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/oxfordplayhousejaneswalk