A nine-year-old Salisbury boy used his map-reading skills learnt at cubs to walk from Stonehenge to the Cathedral, raising money for Ukraine.

Austin Preece, nine, was watching the news at home and asking questions about the events in Ukraine. According to his mum, his response was: “I need to do something”.

Within an hour, he had come up with a plan to walk the nine or so miles from one landmark to the other.

Along with mum Sarah, 39, the Winterbourne Earls Primary School pupil set out from the Heel Stone on Saturday (April 9).

Stopping for a sandwich in Old Sarum, he reached the Cathedral in the afternoon.

Sarah said: “I am a very proud mum, I have to say.”

Sarah, who works for the UK Health Security Agency and volunteers as a leader for Winterbourne Guides, said that Austin recovered from the walk quicker than she did.

She said: “He was tired at the end, but not too tired for a quick drink in the Ale House before we went home.

“When asked how he felt at the end of the walk, he said: ‘Tired and proud. I just wanted to help’.

“By the evening, he was his normal self again – he bounced back quicker than I did!

“It is a lovely walk, with lots of different things to see on the way. I am going to try and persuade my guides to give it a go.”

While she walked with him, Austin was in charge of the map, a skill he learned as a Bourne Valley Cub.

They also bumped into many friends on the way, and were greeted by a host of family and friends at the end, including headteacher Philippa Carter who came to show support.

Sarah said: “It was completely his suggestion to go from Stonehenge to the Cathedral.

“We set out to raise £100, but we now have more than £1,500, including gift aid and offline donations.”

She added: “I am ridiculously proud. He is very hardworking, very determined – that it was his idea, and he promoted it by going around to our neighbours and speaking to his cubs and headteacher.

“And when we bumped into people on the way, he was so eloquent at explaining what he was doing and why.

“It was inspirational, and it is reassuring when there are so many negative things happening in our world, to see youngsters who want to do something about it in response.”

The money that Austin raised is going to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Newsquest has pledged to donate proceeds from sales of some of its largest newspapers to the Red Cross DEC Ukraine Humanitarian appeal, which is dedicated to helping and saving those affected by this horrific and bloody war. We’re asking you to join us.

Please join us: justgiving.com/fundraising/therewithukraine 

Donations made via JustGiving and use of the JustGiving website will be subject to the JustGiving privacy policy https://www.justgiving.com/about/info/privacy-policy/privacy-policy-v30 and cookie policy https://www.justgiving.com/about/info/cookie-notice 

None of the donation will be collected by Newsquest. Financial transactions are with JustGiving to donate to the British Red Cross Society DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

In the unlikely event that the British Red Cross Society raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help them prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters anywhere in the world.

For more information visit  https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/disaster-fund Charity Registration No. Eng/Wales 220949,Scot SC037738, IOM 0752, Jers430

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