Walking the Wash with Autism - Meet Chris

Chris, a man with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who lives in supported living accommodation in Lincolnshire, has taken two years to walk the Wash with the help of his care workers to raise awareness of Autism and to promote the Wash becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Age 51, Chris completed his 42-mile challenge in small 3-to-4-mile sections to overcome logistical obstacles and fitness limitations such as Chris’ asthma. He was supported throughout his journey by his care workers; Sylwester Oleksiewicz, Tomasz Wilf, Alex Kay and team leader Kim Wainwright, from his supported living service in Lincolnshire, where Ambient Support provides his care.

Chris says: “I lived in London for 24 years. The countryside is so different. Being outside helped me to feel a part of my community and it helped my fitness. And I learned more about my ancestors and where I have come from.”

The Wash is a rectangular bay and multiple estuary at the north-west corner of East Anglia on the East coast of England, where Norfolk meets Lincolnshire bordering the North Sea. Stretching from Skegness to the Norfolk town of Hunstanton, the Wash is the largest national nature reserve by area covering almost 8,800 hectares. Five major rivers flow into the North Sea at the Wash; The Steeping River, Whitham, Welland, Nene and Great Ouse.

Sylwester, care worker at Ambient Support and Chris’s main companion throughout his journey, says: “The Wash is one of the few last wildernesses in England, and it is a living environment that changes all the time according to the seasons and the ebbs and flows of the tide. It’s very beautiful but also challenging and demanding in terms of walking it.

“At Ambient, we are committed to providing person-centred, responsive support to the people we care for, following an ‘Active Support’ approach that helps people gain skills, confidence, and control of their lives. And so, helping Chris achieve his dream of walking the Wash was incredibly important to us as a team.”

Chris set off in April 2021 and completed his challenge in May 2023 – he walked approximately 42 miles of the 80-mile Wash walk and visited the mouth of every river. Encountering plenty of wildlife along the way including otters, seals, geese, ospreys, cranes, sea scurvy and marsh samphire. Chris regularly helped to collect litter on the way to keep the environment clean and also experienced outside cooking.

Chris continues:“My favourite parts included crossing the river Great Ouse by ferry and exploring King’s Lynn. We met lots of people along the way including foreign tourists, a nice HM prison guard who took us across HM Prison North Sea Camp, and we even helped search for a lost dog.”

In April, the UK government announced that England’s east wetlands including the Wash are being put forward as a potential UNESCO World Heritage Site and Chris hopes his walk will raise awareness of the campaign.

Chris and his key care worker, Sylwester, developed a strong bond during the challenge and share a similar taste for adventure and being in the great outdoors.

Sylwester, says: “I feel honored to have shared this journey with Chris. The sheer distance was an enormous challenge for him, and over the two years we experienced all kinds of weather, sometimes four seasons in one day. It was tough at times, but we were disciplined, and Chris never gave up- his perseverance and enthusiasm was inspiring. The joy and excitement of being outdoors spurred us on.”

Of future walking plans, Sylwester, says: “We are inviting other Ambient Support staff and people we support to walk with Chris every month over the summertime. Walks are about 5,000 steps and last around one hour. We have food and drinks al fresco, and we ensure that walks are wheelchair friendly and there is access to toilets. The walk in August will be at Ferry Meadows in Peterborough.”

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