Six months after setting off from the iconic Spean Bridge Commando Memorial in Scotland, Earthstrider founder and serving Royal Navy Commando Fred Stokes is marking a major milestone in his world-record attempt to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe on foot, while raising funds for Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC).
Fred reaches the six-month mark while traversing the vast and unforgiving plains in Western Australia, one of the most remote stretches of road in the world. The milestone comes after an extraordinary six months of endurance and resilience, with Fred having already covered 3,750 miles across 12 countries since beginning the challenge in December.
The Earthstrider expedition will see Fred cover more than 16,000 miles across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australasia, North and South America in a bid to become the youngest person ever to run around the world.
The statistics from the first six months of the challenge are remarkable:
- 3750 miles run – averaging at about 20 miles a day
- 12 countries crossed
- More than 115,000 feet of elevation climbed – equivalent to climbing Mount Everest more than three times!
- Around 5,000 calories burned every day
While the numbers tell part of the story, they only hint at the scale of the challenge. Since leaving Scotland, Fred has battled extreme weather, physical exhaustion, long periods away from home and the mental demands that come with spending months on the road.
Throughout it all, the mission has remained the same: to raise funds and awareness for Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity, which supports serving personnel, veterans and their families for life.
Fred Stokes said:
“When I set off from Spean Bridge six months ago, Australia felt a very long way away. There have been some incredible moments and some really tough days, but every mile has reminded me why I started. This challenge is about raising money for RNRMC and giving something back to the people and families I’ve served alongside throughout my career.
I’ve seen first-hand the difference the charity makes to serving personnel, veterans and their loved ones. Knowing that every step helps support that work keeps me moving forward. Reaching this milestone on the Nullarbor Plain feels surreal, but there’s still a long road ahead.”
As Earthstrider continues across Australia and beyond, Fred remains focused on the thousands of miles still ahead. While the world-record attempt is far from over, reaching the six-month mark on one of the world’s most remote roads is a powerful reminder of just how far he has already come.
