Stephen Johnson, the managing director of Quooker UK, has announced plans to complete a “world record-breaking” walking challenge this year in honour of his late father.
Johnson has vowed to walk 2.6 million steps and nearly 2,000 km across a 31 day period later this year, which will require him to walk an average of 65 km per day. His route will begin in Düsseldorf, Germany, and conclude at the company’s Spanish HQ in Barcelona, taking him across five countries. Along the way, Johnson says he plans to raise £100,000 for good causes.
The announcement of the challenge follows other impressive fundraising walks Johnson has undertaken in previous years. In 2023, he walked 76 km and 107,000 steps in a single day.
This was followed by a 2024 challenge to walk 2,046,000 steps in 31 days, which he completed to raise funds for the charity Grief Encounter. Despite the incredibly ambitious target, Johnson actually surpassed his goal several days ahead of schedule, and still continued walking to raise additional funds for the cause.
Announcing the 2025 challenge on social media, Johnson said: “This challenge is not just about steps; it’s about making an impact. My goal is to raise £100,000 for meaningful causes while closing this trilogy with an unforgettable achievement.
“Every step of this trilogy has been about pushing limits, inspiring others, and creating positive change. This final chapter is the culmination of those efforts, and I’d love your support to make it happen.”
Johnson has also said he is also looking for corporate sponsors to help him on his journey, saying they can be “part of a journey that spans borders and inspires thousands”.
In September of last year, Quooker said it had enjoyed “robust growth” over the last financial year, reporting an impressive 11% increase in turnover over its previous year figures.