Comedian Damian Kingsley spent 112 days on the road relying on other people’s generosity to raise money for Shelter. This is his story.
When I was starting out as a comedian I also worked a day job in Holborn. During my commute I’d see homeless people on a daily basis. I’d donate money to Shelter, but always felt I should be doing a bit more.
That’s when I thought about doing this tour. My plan was to get from the south of England to Edinburgh without any cash, playing a gig every night and relying on other people for food, transport and shelter. It took a year to plan - with a lot of help from my mum.
I set off from Land’s End on 24 March. The first thing I did was cut up my debit card. I thought it would be a good idea to bring a portable PA in my rucksack, but it weighed more than 11kg and carrying it hurt. I thought I could walk 10-12 miles a day, but the most I managed was six.
My plan was to hitch between venues, but I was surprised how few lifts I got. It was only when things began to build on social media people really got into it. Throughout the whole tour I was amazed at how generous people could be – not just coming to the gigs and donating, but giving me lifts, feeding me, trusting me enough to put me up in their homes. It really surprised me and made me a lot less cynical.
It’s quite hard to get into a funny mindset when you’ve got nowhere to sleep that night
I remember one night I was doing a gig near Cambridge, I didn’t have anywhere to stay and the weather was horrible. It’s quite hard to get into a funny mindset when you’ve got nowhere to sleep that night. Then a guy came into the pub and told me he’d seen me on Facebook. He gave me a meal, let me stay at his place and then drove me to the next venue.
Other people would give me food. After one gig a woman went up to the bar and came back with a carrier bag full of crisps and chocolate. There were days when I didn’t have anything to eat, but there was always a Mars Bar waiting in that bag.
In no way would I say I understand homelessness. But now I know what it’s like waking up with no food and nowhere to stay for the next week. That uncertainty is the scariest thing. But I know that at the end of the day I could have gone home.
I finally reached Edinburgh on 14 July, 112 days after setting off. I was just dying for it to end – the mental exhaustion was the worst thing, but the challenge kept me going. When I started off I’d aimed for £7000 – in the end, I raised more than £17,000. It’s a great feeling to be able to look back and remember the people who helped me out – and the money I raised for Shelter.
Damian is playing at Bar 50 from August 4 to 28 during this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. Shows start at 3.30pm and entrance is free with donations being accepted for Shelter.
