My Silk Road Walk: a virtual walk of 6,000 miles from China to Italy - Ageing Well Public Series 2025/26

Join us for Talk 8, My Silk Road Walk: a virtual walk of 6,000 miles from X’ian, China to Venice, Italy. 

How do we build a strong and resilient musculoskeletal system in later life and how can we have fun at the same time? In this talk, Dave shares his insights and experiences gained while undertaking two epic virtual walks. During the first year of the Pandemic, Dave learned about someone doing a virtual cycle ride along Route 66 and wondered if it might be walkable in one year. Inspired by a love of walking, travelling, and learning Dave combined the physical activity with research into the locations and history of the routes. Starting on January 1st, 2021, Dave completed the walk on December 6th, having walked 2452 miles. After a friend suggested the “Silk Road’’ as his next challenge, Dave began the 6300-mile Silk Road Walk on January 1st, 2022, finishing on September 6th, 2024. As Dave commented: All of which I achieved before my arrival in Venice! Or All of which I achieved without leaving the country!

The speaker

Dave Curry - Dave has Type 1 Diabetes and is a volunteer “Peer Supporter” with Diabetes Scotland, he also represents Diabetes Scotland with the Scottish Football Association’s programme known as “Football Fans in Training” at Aberdeen, Peterhead and Arbroath. This enterprise is designed to reduce the risk of Football Fans developing Type 2 Diabetes.