Heart Wood's Allendale Challenge
Organised by Heart WoodRaising funds to support local mental health charity Heart Wood.
Story
**UPDATE Sun 6 April**
We did it! Yesterday, in the best weather the Allendale Challenge has seen in a few years, we completed the 26 mile course. Rachel and Emma took it steady, and only got up to knee deep in a bog or two, while Ian - our fell running legend - flew past them and completed the course in his personal best time of 4 hours and 15 minutes!!
*** Check out the photo gallery ***
Thanks to everyone who has supported us so far.
We've smashed our target, but it's not too late to donate!
Here’s just some of the ways you can support a Men’s Group session:
- £50 pays for a taxi one way for up to four people from Haltwhistle and Hexham (50% of our participants rely on our offer of free transport)
- £40 will pay for a new campfire kettle
- £25 pays for the weekly site fee
- £10 pays for the weekly drink, biscuit and soup ingredients
Thanks again for everyone's incredible support. We are so grateful.
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The Allendale Challenge isn't called a challenge for no reason! It is regarded as one of the toughest challenge walks around. Taking in the finest Bogs in the North of England, with the weather being as unpredictable as the terrain! The 26 mile circuit starts and finishes in Allendale Town taking in Hard Rigg, Black Hill and Killhope Law before returning to Allendale via Spartylea, The Drag and Ladelwell.
On Saturday 5 April, our small Allendale Challenge Team - Ian, Emma and Rachel - will attempt the course.
Ian will be the first home as he is running the route, while Emma and Rachel are lacing up their boots and heading for the hills and bogs!
Why are we taking on the challenge?
Nationally, one man dies every 2 hours from suicide (ONS 2022). Suicide is the biggest killer of men aged 45-49 and the North East has the highest rate in the country. For every tragic suicide there are men who are isolated, suffering and in need of support which is different to the usual indoor therapy.
Having somewhere to be where I wasn't judged was a massive help.
Heart Wood is a local mental health charity that aims to improve the wellbeing of men suffering with complex and enduring poor mental health through woodland based group therapy sessions.
All money raised will directly support our men's groups.
Thank you.
It’s really helped out that I've been able to come to these places. Coming to this group has opened up a lot of doors to help me. They are like a family here for me, do you know what I mean? They go above and beyond. God knows where I'd have been without it. (Men's Group Participant, 2024)
