An ex-client is celebrating his success fundraising for charity after walking a mammoth 131.08 miles over seven days in support of an important cause.
Kyle Hounsome took on a charity hike in support of Chestnut Tree House, and has raised £518 for the Sussex-based children’s hospice.
A former resident of our Locksway Road site in Portsmouth, Kyle says that Two Saints’ support gave him the space he needed to recover and move forward with his life.
After setting off from his home in Wecock Farm on 18 June, Kyle trekked for more than 100 miles on a route which eventually led him to South Parade Pier in Portsmouth on 25 June – his 38th birthday.
He picked Chestnut Tree House as his charity of choice after a chance meeting with a fundraising representative.
Kyle was a Two Saints client between August 2023 and September 2024. Prior to this, he had been sectioned twice as well as suffering the sudden loss of his dad.
He said: “My father Peter Edwards, Pete, also Peter Pan (a self professed title of his that fit his personality), passed away suddenly aged just 56 on 1 April, 2021.
“This was one year after I had been sectioned onto a psychiatric ward at St. James’ Hospital in Portsmouth for the very first time. I was there for three weeks.
“His passing occurred as I was navigating the after effects of this, and as I and the rest of the world were attempting to go back to work, following the events of 2020.”
Following an assault which forced him to leave his shared housing, the council placed him in a Travelodge, where he stayed for five months. He was then moved to a guest house, where he lived for a year before taking up residence at Locksway Road.
Kyle added: “Two Saints gave me the space to take a step back from society and physically, spiritually, and mentally reassess where I was.
“I am incredibly grateful for my time at Locksway Road, and the support that I received from all of the staff – especially Katie, Kamilla, Fiona, Hannah Rose, Carly, and Carter.
“With the support of staff at Locksway and Julia of Portsmouth City Council, I was found a beautiful one-bed flat in Wecock Farm.
“Having shared with family, friends, acquaintances and strangers over the years, it is liberating and refreshing to have my own place that I can truly call home.
“Thank you to Two Saints for providing me with a safe space to grow for over a year.”
Kyle is now preparing for the second leg of his fundraising journey. From 21 to 25 July, he is planning to cycle 180 miles to Devon. From there, he will walk a further four miles from Combe Martin to Holdstone Down, where he will trek to the summit with the Aetherius Society as a part of their peaceful pilgrimage.
To donate to Kyle’s fundraising efforts, visit his JustGiving page here.