The Prince of Wales has made a £5,000 donation to a tenant farmer of the Duchy of Cornwall who is walking 142 miles to raise funds for a rural mental health charity. Sam Stables, founder and director of We Are Farming Minds, set off from Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire on Monday and aims to reach The Farmers Club in Whitehall, London, by Friday, covering 30 miles each day.
Prince William, who is patron of the charity, posted a supportive message on Instagram alongside the donation. He wrote: 'Keep going, Sam! You're doing an amazing job! Thinking of you, W.' Mr Stables described the gesture as 'absolutely incredible' and said he was 'over the moon' upon learning of the contribution while walking through the village of Brill.
The fundraising campaign has far exceeded its initial target of £1,420, raising £23,673 as of Thursday night – nearly 2,000 per cent above the goal. The Prince's donation alone was more than triple the original target. Mr Stables said the walk aims to highlight the 'immense pressures farmers face every day' and to support the next generation of farmers.
The Prince met Mr Stables in Herefordshire just over a month ago during his own efforts to promote mental health awareness among farmers. Prince William has long championed mental health causes and became patron of We Are Farming Minds in March 2025. The charity walk is also partnered with the Farm Safety Foundation's Mind Your Head campaign.
