Walking is a great activity to help your mental wellbeing, see other people at a safe distance, keep physically fit and get yourself out into nature.

Setting yourself a walking target can be uplifting and inspiring to others, no matter what your ability. This March Tyneside and Northumberland Mind, the local Mental Health Charity, are encouraging everyone to take the March into March Challenge and set themselves a target walk to get a great sense of achievement, keep physically and mentally well and help raise funds to support our local mental health services. Join our campaign for free at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/march-into-march-for-mental-health-tickets-143844449621

During March could you walk 6 miles a day for 30 days to do the equivalent of the 180 mile Coast to Coast Walk.

20 work colleagues walking 2 miles each a day would reach the 830 Lands End to John OGroats challenge

West Highland Way in 30 days is 6,750 steps per day

South Downs Way in 30 days is 7,000 steps per day

The Cheviot Walks from 7 to 23 miles @ 2000 steps per mile

Hadrians Wall Walk 84 miles +168,000 steps (5,600 steps for 30 days)

If you are good at counting your steps but you cant get out of your house enough, could you climb a virtual hill or mountain in the house, get the children involved, climb flights of stairs or just do steps, do virtual relays within the family linking by zoom as your step.

Vitually climbing Ben Nevis will take you 8,810 steps or 587 flights of stairs

Scarfell Pike is 6,180 steps or 412 flights of stairs

Mount Snowdon is 7,120 steps, 475 flights of stairs

Mount Blanc is 30,420 steps, 2028 flights of stairs

Mount Kilimanjaro is 38,680 steps, 2,578 flights of stairs

Mount Everest is 58,070 steps or 3,871 flights or stairs

Could you set yourself the challenge of climbing a mountain a week or 1258 steps a day would be Ben Nevis in a week.

Tyneside and Northumberland Mind can provide you with a fundraising pack, ideas, support and resources and you can even buy a t-shirt or hoodie with your challenge details on. Every penny raised will help us provide mental health services for those who are struggling with mental illness throughout our region.