Hungarian man living in Wales is doing a 1000-mile march across 22 counties to raise awareness of the challenges that the LGBTQAI+ community faces and to document people’s stories for Welsh heritage.
In support of Pride Month, Jani Foldi has launched the ‘Walking Proud Series’, a month-long expedition project that will see him visit most major cities and towns in Wales, whilst navigating the country in a clockwise direction.
His route takes him through Abergavenny and Chepstow, before travelling to Newport and then Cardiff on the Welsh Coast Path. He then passes through Swansea, Pembrokeshire, Anglesey and Snowdonia, before returning via Wrexham, Welshpool and Llandrindod Wells.
Jani is spending every night camping outdoors under the stars, but is taking the opportunity to meet people in each location to learn and document their struggles.
Jani said: ‘’Everyone has a story to share, it is important for growth and to educate each other. This is a voyage of discovery into Welsh Queer culture where I want to connect the landscape and the people of Wales who work and walk on it.”
He has been preparing for the expedition since December, hiking through the rugged terrain of the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Black Mountains.
During March 2022, he ran the 62km Challenge for Stonewall to raise funds for the charity. He is also raising money on his 1000-mile expedition through JustGiving to support Cancer Research, Stonewall, MacMillan, Shelter and Trans Aid Cymru.
“So many things have happened in the past few years. My loved ones and their friends being assaulted or mistreated in homophobic and transphobic incidents, but what turned my reality upside down and shattered my soul was losing friends and my father to cancer. This made me realise how fragile we are and how important it is to live. To enjoy life and do good and inspirational acts for others. This triggered and ignited the idea of the Walking Proud Series,” added Jani.
You can support Jani by visiting: https://linktr.ee/walkingproudseries
