A journey of footsteps, questions, and hope.
Join our journey to raise awareness and funds for the victims of conflict.
Our Mission and Journey
Who We Are
Welcome to Jasper & The Unarmed Pilgrim
A journey of footsteps, questions, and hope.
In a world too often divided by conflict, Jasper & The Unarmed Pilgrim sets out on a different path — one defined not by weapons or war, but by reflection, resilience, and a search for understanding.
Each year, beginning in 2025, we walk. No armour, no arms—just a man and his dog, tracing the scars of history across continents, exploring one timeless question:
Why do we fight?
Our first pilgrimage leads us from the quiet lanes of England to the heart of Kyiv, passing through the great battlefields of Europe. Along the way, we listen, we learn, and we raise awareness and funds for those living with the unseen wounds of war—mental health, addiction and all the other challenges born from conflict.
This is more than a journey. It’s the beginning of a 70-year project—a living testament to peace, dialogue, and human endurance, culminating in 2095: the 1000th anniversary of Pope Urban II’s call to arms.
Walk with us. Reflect with us. Become part of a movement that chooses understanding over division.
Why We walk
THE MISSION BEHIND THE UNARMED PILGRIM
In 1095, Pope Urban II stood before a crowd in Clermont and called upon Christendom to take up arms—the beginning of the Crusades and centuries of bloodshed justified by faith, power, and politics.
Nearly a thousand years later, The Unarmed Pilgrim answers that call in a different way—not with swords, but with walking, questions, and a desire to heal rather than harm.
This project is not just a single journey. It is a lifetime commitment to exploring the roots of conflict and the resilience of the human spirit. Each year, we will walk—following the echoes of past battles, listening to stories of survival, and asking why humanity returns, time and again, to war.
Our long-term vision is clear: by 2095, on the millennial anniversary of Urban’s call to arms, The Unarmed Pilgrim will stand as a force for peace, education, and compassion. Through these annual pilgrimages, we aim to create a legacy of understanding, supporting those affected by war’s aftermath—particularly in the realms of mental health and addiction.
This is a journey through history, but also a path forward. With each step, we seek not only to remember the cost of conflict but to inspire change, conversation, and hope for future generations.
Join the Jasper & The Unarmed Pilgrim Movement
THE ITINERARY
The 2025 Pilgrimage: From Warren Row to Kyiv
Our first journey begins where many stories start—in familiar surroundings. From the village of Warren Row, we will set out on foot, heading east across landscapes marked by centuries of conflict and courage.
This is more than a route—it’s a living map of Europe’s turbulent past
Planned Route Highlights:
· Departure: Warren Row
· Beaulieu River D-Day Launch Site
· Crossing the Channel in a small boat to Cherbourg
· Normandy: Walking the D-Day Landing Beaches
· Falaise: WW2 Battle and birth place of William The Conquerer
· Battle sites of Crecy & Agincourt
· Ypres: The Last Post at the Menin Gate
· The Western Front Way: Following the First World War Western Front
· Bastogne: Brutal defence by the 101st Airborne
· Hurtgen Forrest: Hell let loose
· Torgau: The meeting of the victorious armies on the River Elbe
· Berlin: The Downfall
· Warsaw: A symbol of survival and defiance and the August 1st Uprising by the Armia Krajowa and it's brutal suppression
· Final Steps: Into Ukraine, with visits to key historical sites before reaching Kyiv
Throughout the journey, we will visit both famous and forgotten battlefields, engage with local historians, and invite voices from every walk of life to share their perspectives.
This is a flexible pilgrimage—rooted in purpose but open to the stories and paths that reveal themselves along the way.
Follow our progress, join us for sections of the walk, or simply walk with us in spirit.
JustGiving / Donation Page
Support The Journey. Support The Cause.
Every step we take is for those still fighting battles no one sees.
Jasper & The Unarmed Pilgrim is committed to raising funds for charities supporting mental health and addiction recovery among those affected by war—starting with families impacted by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Your donation will:
· Provide vital mental health services
· Support addiction recovery programs
· Fund awareness campaigns about the hidden costs of conflict
· Help sustain this annual project promoting peace and reflection
This isn’t just a fundraiser. It’s a call to walk alongside us in creating a legacy of compassion and understanding.
[Donate Now] via our JustGiving page and become part of this journey.
No amount is too small. Every contribution helps us take another step toward healing.
We are currently in discussion with a few charities and will make a final decision on which Charity is the best fit for our and their objectives. If you have worked with a Ukrainian Charity that you feel will be a good fit please let us know.
Together, we walk further.
About Hugo & Jasper
Hugo is a freelance chef, occasional builder, and writer. Jasper is an 8-year-old cockapoo with a nose for adventure and a habit of leading the way. Sharing the same birthday, Jasper is, technically, now the senior partner at 56 , but regardless of who's in charge, they have been inseparable from the day they met, navigating life’s twists and turns together.
When he’s not in the kitchen, on a building site, or behind a notebook, Hugo prefers to be walking—reflecting on the bigger questions, with Jasper always a few steps ahead. Jasper & The Unarmed Pilgrim is their shared journey, blending curiosity, resilience, and a deep bond between man and dog.
Help Jasper & The Unarmed Pilgrim make a difference in the world
Advisors Panel
Guiding the Journey
While Jasper & The Unarmed Pilgrim may begin with two sets of footprints, it is supported by many more.
Behind every step we take is a group of dedicated individuals offering their wisdom, experience, and encouragement.
The Advisors Panel is made up of people who believe in the vision of this project and are helping to turn an idea into a meaningful reality.
From historians and mental health advocates to logistical experts, creatives, and supporters of the cause, these advisors play a crucial role in shaping the first pilgrimage—and laying the foundation for many more to come.
As the project grows, so too will this panel—drawing on diverse voices to ensure that each journey is informed, impactful, and true to its purpose.
If you’re interested in contributing your expertise to future pilgrimages, we welcome conversations. Please get in touch via our Contact Page.