20/08/2026
🇸🇪➡️🍀 From Helsingborg to Glasgow, Ella Stensdotter is taking on a 1,000-mile journey in support of Celtic FC Foundation.
On Tuesday, August 25, Ella - a proud Swedish Celtic fan - will set off from the hometown of Celtic FC legend, Henrik Larsson, after paying homage to the King of Kings by visiting his statue. Her challenge will then see her walk through Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands before taking the ferry across to England. She’ll then continue north into Scotland, eventually finishing at the Brother Walfrid Statue at Celtic Park – a fitting final destination for such a remarkable fundraising journey – on Friday, October 16.
This epic trek will see Ella take on endless miles of roads and trails, cross multiple country borders and face whatever challenges the route may bring along the way. With the walk expected to take 53 days in total to complete, Ella will be putting her determination, strength and endurance to the ultimate test, as she makes her way towards Glasgow. Throughout the challenge, she will be raising vital funds for Celtic FC Foundation and hopes that supporters will get behind her incredible efforts.
Explaining her motivations for undertaking this remarkable challenge, Ella said: “Last winter, I went through one of the most difficult periods of my life. I became severely ill and was hospitalised. For a period, I couldn’t function in ways I had previously taken for granted. Recovery has involved trying to rebuild my life and my confidence in myself, physically and cognitively. Walking has since been my way of doing that and I did it almost every day.
“I have been extraordinarily lucky in one important respect: when my own life became very difficult, I had family and friends around me. Not everybody has that safety net. There are people going through the worst periods of their lives without the resources they need. Those are the people I want this walk to be for. Celtic FC Foundation has always helped and continues to help those who need it most.
“There are inevitably going to be days when I’m absolutely exhausted, wet, sore or wondering why on earth I decided to walk across several countries and knowing that people have donated will give those difficult moments a purpose. If the walk can contribute even a little to the Foundation’s work and help people who genuinely need support, then 1,000 miles feels like a very small price to pay.
“The idea that the Club retains social responsibility beyond what happens on the pitch, through the work of the Foundation is enormously important to me. Nearly 140 years since Celtic Football Club was formed to help people in need, the Foundation is still putting those values into practice. I find that incredibly powerful. And personally, Celtic and Glasgow have given me an enormous sense of belonging during some difficult periods of my own life. This feels like a perfect way of giving something back.”
We wish Ella all the very best of luck with her challenge and thank her for her incredible commitment and support.
If you would like to fundraise on behalf of Celtic FC Foundation, arrange your own unique challenge or find out more about the Foundation initiatives going on throughout the year, please get in touch. You can reach a member of our team at [email protected] or call 0141 551 4321.
Your support is vital, as we continue our mission to help those who need it most.
Thank you for your wonderful support.
