University of Kent student Emily Malkin (23), swapped her high heels for hiking boots as she made her way to her graduation ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral.
Emily had walked 40 miles along the Pilgrim’s Way between Rochester and Canterbury Cathedral for child.org, carrying 50 litres of water along the way, to help raise awareness of children in Africa who have to walk an average of 3.7 miles a day to access clean water.
Emily, who has graduated with a first class honours degree in Social Anthropology, had enrolled on a Charity Apprentice scheme with Child.org which aims to train people that want to start careers in the non-profit sector.
“As part of the scheme we were encouraged to run fundraising challenges. I chose the walk with water challenge and it soon escalated to the idea of walking the Pilgrim’s Way as I have lived in Canterbury for three years and always wanted to do it.
“The idea of walking to graduation was set upon as I thought it would be a great atmosphere to end the walk with and there would be a personal reason to do the pilgrimage that day. I have been really fortunate to have a fantastic team behind me including my father and other friends who have joined me for various stages of the journey.