On 19th November 2023, in the final week of her thirties, Bromley High School alumna Hayley Kennedy ventured into her last UN country – Libya. Hayley has undertaken the incredible challenge of travelling to all 193 UN countries as a visually impaired (Stargardt’s disease, macular degeneration, and double vision) alopecian.

Hayley describes her experience as a mix of surrealism, emotion, and thrill. Upon consulting NomadMania, a hub for global explorers, she discovered that she may be the first person with a disability to accomplish this feat. Her disability posed challenges and demanded constant adaptation to overcome tasks that others might take for granted.

When speaking to Hayley about her expedition, she expressed her immense gratitude to her family, friends, colleagues, and fellow travellers who have provided support and assistance along her arduous journey.

“Reaching this goal is not just for me but for:

  • all the disabled people that have been told they cannot or should not do something because it will be hard,
  • all the alopecians that struggle with self-esteem and confidence issues,
  • anyone who has challenges that take real strength, courage, and determination to meet, every single day,
  • those people that have no one that looks like them to look up to.”

Hayley speaks passionately of the wisdom she has gained from her journey that has spanned over two decades, emphasising that with determination, dreams can indeed materialise.

Despite the challenges and occasional tears of frustration, the overall sentiment is one of love for every moment of her extraordinary journey. The people she met, the kindness witnessed, and the humility she experienced have contributed to a heightened sense of compassion, awareness, and appreciation.

When reminiscing about her time at Bromley High School, Hayley said that the hockey team were a cherished part of her school experience, which brought together a group that played passionately throughout the seven years, forming a dedicated team. The camaraderie extended to weekend matches when members played for different local clubs.

“Art and DT classes were my highlights, fostering friendships that endure to this day,” Hayley

A standout memory for Hayley during her time at Bromley High School was creating her Art A level coursework when she enlisted her boyfriend as a model for a paper mâché model —’a human figure running through a wall’. The amusing twist came when they could not cut him out of the paper mâché and had to seek the teacher’s assistance!

The connections Hayley forged at Bromley High School have evolved into close friendships, with the added prospect of becoming professional allies in the future. “The joy of having friends from one’s formative years who can also be professional confidants,” said Hayley, “is a valuable and enriching aspect of the Bromley High School experience.”

Huge congratulations to Hayley on her fantastic achievement.