Alexander Campbell: the man walking around the world
Everyone gets it, that overwhelming urge deep within you to get out into the world and explore, to travel the planet and soak up everything that you come across.
History is littered with great people who’ve sailed the seven seas and discovered new lands, writing and rewriting our understanding of the world; however, for us in the modern world, it’s harder, even when it’s easier in many aspects, as everywhere is mapped, and you know people who’ve visited every possible spot on the planet.
That urge to explore still lives on in some people, though, and Alexander Campbell is a very modern adventurer, looking to circumnavigate the globe on foot. It’s now been just over three years since he, or ‘Zan’ to his close pals, officially kick-started his epic journey, setting off from the steps of the Sydney Opera House on February 12th, 2023. His plan is a simple one: he’s going to walk around the globe, that’s over 40,000 kilometres, across four continents and 30 countries, but our first question is why?
While many of us hike for fun, the exercise, or its mental health benefits, these aren’t Campbell’s reasons; he is looking to raise valuable funds for the Fred Hollows Foundation as he completes this incredible trek.
The Fred Hollows Foundation is a humanitarian organisation that helps people in poorer countries avoid blindness and restore their sight, and by giving something back to the very countries in which he walks, he can change the world. So far, he’s raised $150,000 but hopes to hit the one million mark by the time this is all said and done. With simple cataract surgery only costing $25 in Nepal and Pakistan, he has already changed lives with his efforts and is hungry to improve even more.
Interestingly, Campbell is an academic and his thesis is on how long-distance hikers manage to reintegrate into society following time-consuming trips, something he is now experiencing first-hand, after getting a First Class Honours in Anthropology from the University of Sydney. He’s currently over halfway into this journey, but it is looking likely to take longer than the four years he was initially hoping to complete the challenge in.
He set off along Australia’s East Coast before traversing South East Asia, and like many backpackers, he explored Thailand and Malaysia before crossing into South Asia and experiencing the hustle and bustle of India and Pakistan, before a long and arduous journey through Central Asia. Next up was the Middle East and Caucasus, with Azerbaijan, Georgia completed before crossing into Europe, and he’s currently in Turkey, the meeting point between Europe and Asia, planning to travel across the continent to the United Kingdom by the end of 2026. Then it’s the Americas before the final stretch and a walk along the entirety of New Zealand before getting back to Australia and walking those final miles back to Sydney.
In many ways, Campbell is doing this alone; after all, he doesn’t have a support truck or any real, human company, but in other ways, he has a support team of thousands, with social media helping him on his quest. He’s grown a cult following on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, and that’s seen him get support on the way, whether that’s kind words from fans or even people walking part of his routes alongside him. What really comes across in his videos is that he’s a bloody good bloke, level-headed and excited for every part of the challenge that he’s set himself, showing that the power of social media can bring people together, make life better and also hugely impact the ability to raise money for a good cause.
His life is in his backpack: the sleeping bag, tent, stove, clothes and electronics, it’s all there, and he’s lugging it every step of the way, grabbing more food and water from the towns and villages he passes, with many locals happy to help him on his personal pilgrimage.
This hasn’t been easy for him, of course, and he’s encountered wild animals, including bears and wolves, had difficulties with border closures and tricky visas, as well as weather that’s alternated from scorching heat to snowstorms, but after enduring it all and going through 13 pairs of hiking boots, he’s continuing this journey and spreading his message as he goes. This authentic, life-affirming trip is winning friends all over the world, and it’s going to be fascinating to watch as he gets closer and closer to home…and Zan, if you’re reading this, let’s walk together when you’re in the UK!
