I organise Christmas Day walks for people who are alone – it’s pure joy
“I’ve had people on the Christmas Day hike saying that it was going to be their last Christmas alive because they’d lost hope. They’d lost their kids, they haven’t got any family members or they’ve had a fallout, it’s their first year as a widower…” Damon Alexander-Cole tells me. “I’ve heard some heartbreaking stories. And I will continue to do these hikes as long as I can move my legs because they’re too important for too many people not to.” In a world that often feels increasingly uncertain and disconnected, Alexander-Cole is something of a beacon. After a period of homelessness several years ago, the 38-year-old from Manchester finally got back on his feet and had time to reflect. “I realised that while I’d spent loads of Christmases on my own and that it hadn’t been a particularly lonely time for me, being homeless was an extremely lonely time for me,” he says. “It made me think that there were probably loads of people spending Christmas alone or dreading this time of year because they don’t feel like they have any connections.” (Photo: Supplied).
Finding a new way to enjoy Christmas Day
In response, he decided to organise his first Christmas Day hike for people alone on Christmas in 2020 after discovering the mental health benefits of walking for himself. After promoting the walk on social media, just 15 people confirmed. But by the time the big day arrived, only one person turned up. "Awkwardly, it was a girl that I’d previously matched with on [dating app] Tinder,” he tells me. While they didn’t hit it off romantically, the pair enjoyed their day. “I had to screenshot her a few of the cancellations people had sent me about how they’d made friends with family members and things,” he remembers, so she didn’t worry that the whole thing was orchestrated. “We had some mince pies and some mulled wine by a little lake. It was definitely just platonic, but it was a nice way to spend the day,” he says. (Photo: Niall Carson/PA).
Starting a new tradition
The following year, Alexander-Cole refused to be disheartened by the low numbers from the previous year – but not everything ran smoothly. “The second year, about 20 people turned up,” he says. “I crashed my car in a ditch and ended up missing the first hour of my own Christmas Day hike. One of my mates had to lead it for me. I remember saying to the girl I was dating, ‘Why does it seem to backfire every time I try to help people?’” Undeterred, he decided to arrange a New Year’s Day hike. “It was insane,” he recalls. “Ninety people turned up.” After this, he began running monthly walks in addition to his Christmas Day walk. “By year three, we had 300 people and it just kept growing. We’ve now also got a group of guys doing one in North Wales and one in the Lake District, so it’s really grown. “Christmas can be one of the loneliest times of the year, so doing something that people can look forward to is amazing,” he adds. “It’s just been a wicked journey to be on.” (Photo: Supplied).
Spending Christmas alone is on the rise
And he’s not wrong. A 2024 study by the Policy Institute at King’s College London found that one in nine people surveyed (11 per cent) said they would be spending Christmas Day alone, up from one in 20 (five per cent) who said the same 55 years ago. The research revealed that while the share of those aged 65 and older who said they would spend the day alone remained the same, at 15 per cent, the biggest increase was among the youngest group, with one in 11 (nine per cent) of 21-to-34-year-olds indicating they would be alone on Christmas Day, up from one in 100 (one per cent) in 1969. This year, Alexander-Cole will be leading three different walks, at three different locations in the Peak District. “That way, people can come for the whole day or if people just want to come for an hour, they’re welcome to do that too,” he says. “So, the north location will be Dovestone Reservoir. That’ll be a two-hour walk and reasonably easy. I’ve got a wheelchair-user joining us for that, so I’ll be giving them a little push around, but it’ll be quite flat and around some beautiful reservoirs,” he says. “At midday, we’ll move to Bamford Edge, which is a really beautiful cliff-edge, looking over Ladybower,” he continues. “It’s another nice, easy one, with a bit more of an incline. And then we’ll finish at the Roaches, which is the South Peak District.” (Photo: Supplied).
Anyone and everyone is welcome
Inclusivity is important for Alexander-Cole. “Anyone is welcome, with any fitness level,” he says. “All of the hikes are two hours maximum and mostly flat. And we all walk together. I’ve got a few different people throughout the day that will be helping; we’ve all got radios and I position them at the front, middle and back of the pack. That way, we make sure no one gets left behind.” The news of his hikes has spread, with businesses wanting to support such a positive initiative. “Last year, Tesco gave us loads of mince pies and mulled wine,” he said. “And this year, Eversheds Sutherland [a law firm] in Manchester are giving us loads of goodies, too.” For Alexander-Cole, one of the nicest things is seeing the friendships that arise as a result of the hikes. “Seeing people making connections and then going on hikes with people they’ve met on the Christmas Day hikes is amazing,” he smiles. “People are building their own little communities… it’s a really good feeling.” He encourages anyone facing the prospect of Christmas Day alone to come along. “If anyone’s on the fence about coming and they’re worried they won’t know anyone, please know that everyone will be in the same situation,” he says. “Push yourself to do it because you’ll be ending and starting a new year with a great experience. If you don’t like it, you can disappear after an hour – but if you do, you might meet some new people, make some amazing memories and just have a great time.” (Photo: Supplied).
