Every step is a thank you: Chris returns to QEHB on foot after life-saving liver transplant
Published on 23/09/2026
A liver transplant recipient whose life was saved at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) is preparing to walk more than 90 miles back to the hospital to thank the donor, NHS staff and loved ones who helped give him a second chance at life.
Chris Howard, a storyteller and content creator from Liverpool, will set off on a four-day walk from his home city to QEHB during Organ Donation Week as part of his fundraising and awareness campaign, 90 Miles of Thanks. The challenge will see him cover approximately 92 miles between Wednesday 23 and Saturday 26 September.
For Chris, the journey carries special significance. The last time he travelled from Liverpool to Birmingham, he was gravely ill and in need of a life-saving liver transplant.
After living with autoimmune disease since childhood and developing Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), his health deteriorated to the point where he required a transplant. Following around 18 months on the waiting list, he received a donor liver and underwent transplant surgery at QEHB in May 2024.
More than two years later, Chris is retracing that journey under his own steam, returning not as a patient but as someone able to enjoy life, thanks to the generosity of an organ donor and the care he received at QEHB.
Speaking about the challenge, Chris said: “The last time I made this journey, I was travelling because I had no other choice. Without a transplant, I wouldn't be here today. This time, I'll arrive under my own steam.
“Every mile is a thank you - to my donor and their family, to the incredible NHS staff who saved my life, and to everyone who has supported me on this journey. If sharing my story encourages even one more family to have a conversation about organ donation, every step will have been worth it.”
The campaign aims to raise money for the NHS Blood and Transplant Charity, but Chris hopes its lasting impact will be encouraging more people to have conversations about organ donation with their loved ones.
QEHB is one of the UK's leading transplant centres with patients travelling to the hospital from across the country. Chris hopes his walk will help people understand that behind every transplant, there are donors, families, recipients and communities whose lives are often changed forever.
He will document the challenge throughout the four days, sharing his progress, reflections and encounters along the route before finishing at the hospital where he received his transplant and began rebuilding his life.
Hear more from Chris online.
Video: 90 miles of thanks
In this video Chris explains his reason for walking the 90 miles from Liverpool to Birmingham.
Joining the NHS Organ Donor Register gives you the opportunity to record your organ donation decision. It is also important to talk to your family and loved ones so they understand and can support your wishes.
