How can we bridge the gap between global humanitarian crises?
Rather than spotlighting one crisis at the expense of another, can our collective humanity stretch far enough to acknowledge multiple global atrocities happening right now?
For Stewart Knights, Adam Critchlow, and Nikolaii Stewart, these pressing questions demanded action – in the form of Bridge the Gap Expedition, a two-week, 650km walk undertaken for charity.
From October 31 to November 13 2025, the three friends journeyed on foot from the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh to the Houses of Parliament in London, pushing their physical and mental limits every step of the way. Their journey stands as a testament to the power of mind over matter, and to what can happen when awareness is carried, quite literally, across a nation.
At first amazed, then impressed and inspired, I was eager to ask Stewart about the what, why, and how behind their expedition across the UK.
Most importantly, what motivated them all?
When reflecting on the highlights and daily challenges of the walk, Stewart was keen to keep Bridge the Gap Expedition’s core motivation in focus: raising money for displaced Palestinians and Ukrainians.
For them to achieve this, Bridge the Gap Expedition opened up a GoFundMe fundraiser for the following charities:
- Gaza Soup Kitchen, a grassroots initiative that supports displaced families who have lost homes, income, or cooking facilities.
- UNRWA, a United Nations agency that supports the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees.
- Ele Elna Elak, a volunteer-driven initiative that provides food parcels, water relief and shelter to support vulnerable families in Palestine.
- Ukraine Crisis Appeal by BritishRedCross, which has supported more than 22 million people impacted by the crisis in Ukraine so far.
As well as raising money, Stewart reiterated their goal of raising awareness through action for two coexisting disasters in our world. It goes without saying that Stewart, Adam, and Nikolaii kept other global conflicts in their hearts and minds during their expedition, while choosing to target the humanitarian crises happening in Gaza and Ukraine.
A powerful reminder of their call for global empathy and solidarity, the trio of friends shared in their GoFundMe description:
“In a time of overwhelming silence, our footsteps speak. We walk for Gaza. We walk for Ukraine. We walk to remind the world that humanity must remain indivisible.”
When asked what Bridge the Gap Expedition means to him, Stewart emphasised the importance of conversation. Much like our own, he described the many discussions he, Adam, and Nikolaii had with curious strangers along the way. Keen to encourage people to reflect on how humanitarian conflicts are presented in the media, the trio made sure each conversation felt both accessible and informative.
For Stewart, Adam, and Nikolaii, opening up dialogue between different global conflicts during their expedition meant leading with a humanitarian, rather than political, standpoint. Instead of belittling people for perceived political unawareness, they welcomed genuine questions. After all, it’s not everyday you encounter three people walking from Edinburgh to London in just two weeks.
Allowing their journey to naturally connect them with others, Stewart discussed the highs and the lows of encountering people with varied political opinions – hence why it felt important for them to frame their walk as a humanitarian expedition.
During our own conversation, Stewart joked that their expedition was “a kind of pilgrimage”. While they had a clear message to convey during their 650km charity walk, they also prioritised what Stewart called “slow communication”. In other words, taking the time to create mutual understanding.
Ultimately, Bridge the Gap Expedition is the result of normal lads doing something extraordinary for charity. Stewart, Adam, and Nikolaii have made this clear themselves:
“We are not athletes, far from it, we are undertaking this as an extreme physical challenge to help raise money and awareness for two existing disasters in our world.”
With this in mind, I couldn’t help asking Stewart if they encountered any major challenges along the way. A two week expedition across countries… what could go wrong?
In response, Stewart wasn’t afraid to admit that their expedition didn’t go smoothly. From physical injuries disrupting their plans to walk certain routes to practical issues with arranging overnight accommodation, they were met with unexpected difficulties. By day seven, Stewart was open about doubts that started to creep in: Why carry on? Could we have raised more money by doing something different? Is this walk doing more to satisfy our own egos?
But this was all part of the challenge. With strengthened resolve, Stewart shared how they ploughed on to complete this expedition with the knowledge that there are many ways to raise money, but that this was the method of action that suited them.
Appreciating his honesty, I asked Stewart if he would encourage other people to take similar humanitarian action. When reflecting on his own experience, Stewart was enthusiastic but advised others to “Be clear on why you’re doing it”.
For Bridge the Gap Expedition, their purpose was and continues to be raising money and awareness for the ongoing humanitarian crises in Palestine and Ukraine. That clarity of purpose allowed the trio to fully embrace their journey, stripping life back to its basics: walking, thinking, and conversing.
It was heartwarming to hear Stewart call walking “a privilege”. Challenges aside, Bridge the Gap Expedition gave him, Adam, and Nikolaii the chance to reconnect with what really matters, through disconnecting from technology and welcoming “slow communication”. I often think about how convenience kills community and, mentioning this to Stewart, he shared how taking an inconvenient method of transport brought them closer to all kinds of human connection.
That’s not to say that an expedition across the UK is the primary way to take humanitarian action. While Bridge the Gap Expedition had a self-made legacy to live up to, after having walked in 2017 from Grenfell Tower in London to Manchester Arena, with the purpose of creating dialogue between these different tragedies, there are many ways to fundraise and show solidarity for what you believe in.
Nevertheless, Stewart did let me into future plans for an open-invitation walk with Bridge the Gap Expedition. While more information is yet to be confirmed, he advised those interested to keep an eye on their Instagram account @bridgethegap_expedition for updates.
Currently, Stewart, Adam, and Nikolaii are halfway to achieving their goal of fundraising £10,000 for their four chosen charities in support of Palestine and Ukraine. Their recent expedition may be over, but their mission to bridge the gap between these global humanitarian crises is not.
So whether you’re an avid hiker, or are just looking for a chance to act with purpose, I advise you to listen to Bridge the Gap Expedition when they say:
“It’s an opportunity to stand for action, not apathy – and that you walk the walk when it comes to global responsibility.”
