“Prioritise your dog before yourself every single time...”
After leaving the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, Chris Lewis had difficulty adapting to civilian life. Now he’s walking the entire UK coastline to raise money for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA), which provides lifelong support to the Armed Forces and their families. His adventures started back in 2017.
“I was a single parent, and I think I was suffering from depression,” Chris explained. “My daughter left to go to college, and I suddenly found myself on my own. My escape was always being outdoors. I went for a surf one day, looked down the coast, and just thought: ‘Right, I’m going to walk the coast of the UK!’”
Two days later, Chris set off. Nine months later he adopted Lurcher Jet, when her family couldn’t keep her.
“Jet and I hit it off from the very second we got together. The first night in the tent I don’t think I slept, I was just giving her tickles and cuddles to bond with her.”
After meeting his partner, Kate, during the walk, the three of them are now a closely bonded walking team. “My advice for anybody who wants to do a longer walk with their dog is to know the dog’s limits. Jet would just push on and on, but just like us, dogs need to sleep and rest,” advised Chris.
“Being a Lurcher, Jet gets cold very easily so the first thing I do every single night is make sure she’s fed, watered, and comfortable. I open the tent flaps so she can see what I’m doing. It’s prioritising your dog before yourself every single time that makes for a better camping experience.”