British public rallies around Sudanese friends with £90,000 fundraising walk.
Giel Malual and John Kuei's 900-mile UK trek, set to raise funds for a school in a Sudanese refugee camp, turned out to be a resounding success. Despite battling sub-zero temperatures and encountering some of the most polarizing aspects of British society, the pair was met with an overwhelmingly positive response from strangers.
From Kent to Scotland, Malual and Kuei traversed diverse landscapes and urban centers, stopping only to sleep overnight as they sought to raise £35,000 for their cause. However, in a remarkable display of generosity, the public responded by donating over £90,000 to support the friends' initiative.
In an interview, Malual reflected on the warm reception he and Kuei received from ordinary Britons: "The welcome that we were given, all the warmth and the support, the cheers and the encouragement that we have received... it has been overwhelming." He attributed this unexpected kindness to a shift in public perception away from negativity and towards compassion.
Malual's own experience of moving to the UK at 16 as a South Sudanese refugee informed his decision to undertake the grueling challenge. "It's deeply personal to me," he said, explaining that completing the walk would create awareness about everyday struggles faced by displaced individuals and raise funds for schools in refugee camps.
Gulwali Passarlay, an Afghan refugee who supported the duo on their journey, highlighted a glaring contrast between the harsh rhetoric of some politicians and the actions of ordinary people. "The right-wing politicians keep saying they know the will of the people," she said. "But the will of the people we've seen has been very different... compassion, kindness, and generosity."
Malual and Kuei completed their epic walk over 33 days, braving temperatures as low as -5C (23F). As they crossed into Scotland, one of the most challenging parts of their journey, they received aid from well-wishers who stopped their cars to chat and make donations. In contrast, some Airbnb hosts refunded their stay in anticipation of potential negative reactions.
Upon completing their final leg at Duncansby Head lighthouse, Malual and Kuei were greeted with a welcome party at King's Cross station in London. As they reflected on the experience, they highlighted its transformative power: "When we were on that journey... finding these people who helped us out and supporting us without judging us based on what we look like – that is the true value of this society."
Giel Malual and John Kuei's 900-mile UK trek, set to raise funds for a school in a Sudanese refugee camp, turned out to be a resounding success. Despite battling sub-zero temperatures and encountering some of the most polarizing aspects of British society, the pair was met with an overwhelmingly positive response from strangers.
From Kent to Scotland, Malual and Kuei traversed diverse landscapes and urban centers, stopping only to sleep overnight as they sought to raise £35,000 for their cause. However, in a remarkable display of generosity, the public responded by donating over £90,000 to support the friends' initiative.
In an interview, Malual reflected on the warm reception he and Kuei received from ordinary Britons: "The welcome that we were given, all the warmth and the support, the cheers and the encouragement that we have received... it has been overwhelming." He attributed this unexpected kindness to a shift in public perception away from negativity and towards compassion.
Malual's own experience of moving to the UK at 16 as a South Sudanese refugee informed his decision to undertake the grueling challenge. "It's deeply personal to me," he said, explaining that completing the walk would create awareness about everyday struggles faced by displaced individuals and raise funds for schools in refugee camps.
Gulwali Passarlay, an Afghan refugee who supported the duo on their journey, highlighted a glaring contrast between the harsh rhetoric of some politicians and the actions of ordinary people. "The right-wing politicians keep saying they know the will of the people," she said. "But the will of the people we've seen has been very different... compassion, kindness, and generosity."
Malual and Kuei completed their epic walk over 33 days, braving temperatures as low as -5C (23F). As they crossed into Scotland, one of the most challenging parts of their journey, they received aid from well-wishers who stopped their cars to chat and make donations. In contrast, some Airbnb hosts refunded their stay in anticipation of potential negative reactions.
Upon completing their final leg at Duncansby Head lighthouse, Malual and Kuei were greeted with a welcome party at King's Cross station in London. As they reflected on the experience, they highlighted its transformative power: "When we were on that journey... finding these people who helped us out and supporting us without judging us based on what we look like – that is the true value of this society."
I mean, have you ever stopped to think about why people decide to show up for complete strangers they've never met before? For Malual and Kuei, it was a walk in the UK but for us, ordinary Britons, it's a reflection of our own humanity. We put ourselves in their shoes and saw the struggles they face as refugees, and that's when we got emotional about giving back. It's like we're being reminded to look beyond the surface level and tap into our capacity for compassion. The fact that £90k was donated is just mind-blowing – it goes to show that kindness can be a powerful catalyst for change... 
They did an incredible 900-mile trek across the UK to raise money for a school in a refugee camp. I mean, it's not easy walking that far, especially when you're sub-zero temperatures and stuff 
. But what I love is how the British public came together to support them. £90k! That's insane 
. It just goes to show that even in tough times, there's still so much kindness and compassion out there. The fact that some people were worried about being negative or having a bad reaction when they saw Malual and Kuei on their journey is just wild 
. I love how the guys got this amazing welcome at King's Cross station – it was like a celebration of humanity! 
. for someone who went through similar experiences as Malual, this walk is more than just a fundraiser, it's a beacon of hope & solidarity 
I'm not surprised tho, Brits are known for bein' generous. But what really gets me is how some people's reactions were so different from the politicians' rhetoric about refugees and immigration. Like, yeah, it's harsh out there, but to see ordinary folk showin' compassion and kindness... that's the real change we need 
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90k pounds raised for a good cause? it's just incredible to see how one simple act can inspire so much kindness and generosity from strangers. it's proof that even in the midst of controversy, there are still people like malual and kuei who choose to spread love and compassion 
I mean, £90k for two mates walking from Kent to Scotland? That's literally insane! 
It's not like they were running away from a zombie apocalypse or anything. But for real, it's awesome that people rallied around them and showed some compassion towards their cause. Those politicians need to learn a thing or two about the "will of the people". The contrast between the harsh rhetoric and everyday kindness is just so refreshing 
. And I'm loving the idea of Airbnb hosts refunding stays out of fear of negative reactions – that's just great marketing for the service! 
The contrast between politicians and everyday people is staggering. It's like they say, 'actions speak louder than words'. 
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Just saw this amazing news about a British public rallyin' around two Sudanese friends, Giel & John, who went on an epic 900-mile walk to raise funds for a school in a refugee camp 
. The response from strangers was OVERWHELMING 
. Malual said it was all about shiftin' the narrative from negativity to compassion 
! 
they're just walking lol, it's not like they're curing cancer or anything. £90k is just money, get over it 
UK's £90k fundraising walk for Sudanese friends just shows how messed up our country is 
. I mean, £35k wasn't enough? The fact that some people were expecting them to fail is wild 
. And those Airbnb hosts who refunded the stay? That's some next-level cancel culture right there 
. It's great they got a warm welcome in the end, but let's not pretend it was always going to be this way 
. And what really gets me is that there are still ppl out there who think they can dictate how others should react to their charity efforts 