North East father of two, Lewis Kirkbride is planning a solo march of 300 miles from York to Hastings in 4-stone of armour this September, echoing famous events of 1066 - with the aim of combatting suicide.

Lewis from Durham hopes to raise awareness and donations for a men’s mental health peer support organisation called ManHealth

Lewis hopes his epic 20-day medieval challenge will inspire other men to get talking: “Men still aren’t asking for help or talking when they need to. It can feel like we are alone with nowhere to turn when mental health services and communities around us are struggling to support these men – but I want to show that people are willing to listen. Nobody needs to suffer in silence."

"Organisations like ManHealth are so important at a time when suicide is the biggest killer in men under 50. People looked at me and saw a healthy young man with a job, a home, a wife and a happy family…but I was losing my own battle with depression and anxiety. My hobbies in medieval combat gave me an important link to my sense of self and to other people, but I wish I’d got talking about my mental health much sooner.”

ManHealth offers free peer-support sessions around the North East, which are proving to be making a real difference to the lives of men. ManHealth also offer and training on health inequalities and mental health. They are growing and supporting more men, in a region with the highest suicide rates in the country and several ‘hotspots’ in areas of deprivation and unemployment.

Lewis explains why September’s physical and mental challenge compares to events of 1066 “King Harold had to defend his kingdom by first defeating a Viking army near York on 25th September, then marching south in 20 days to face the Norman invaders at the south coast on October 14th. Like the battles of 1066, mental health problems can invade your life and attack from all sides. We do our best to fight, but putting on a brave face every day takes a lot of energy – a bit like heavy armour weighing down on our shoulders every step of the way.”

“Hopefully my march will have a happier ending than Harold’s, and even though it’ll be a solo journey with lots of ups and downs I’m looking forward to talking to lots of kind and helpful people along the way. I will need help at each stop on my route, and a bit of company will be very welcome! It all proves that we all have our struggles, but if you’re willing to talk, there’s always someone willing to listen.”

For more information on how you can help and support this cause, email lewis.kirkbride@hotmail.co.uk or info@manhealth.org.uk

• Day 1 – Stamford Bridge to Bubwith 15.5 miles

• Day 2 – Bubwith to Goole 10.4 miles

• Day 3 – Goole to Epworth 16.7 miles

• Day 4 – Epworth to Gainsborough 12.3 miles

• Day 5 – Gainsborough to Lincoln 17.5 miles - Starting point Jet Petrol Station DN21 1JU

• Day 6 – Lincoln to Sleaford 21.7 miles – Starting point Lincoln Cathedral

• Day 7 – Sleaford to Threekingham 7.5 miles – Starting point Visitors Centre NG34 7ZD

• Day 8 – Threekingham to Bourne 12.0 miles – Starting point Manor Lane/Laundon Road junction

• Day 9 – Bourne to Peterborough 16.1 miles – Starting point Library PE10 9EF

• Day 10 – Peterborough to Sawtry 11.1 miles – Starting point Cathedral

• Day 11 – Sawtry to Papworth Everard 17.9 miles – Starting Point Post Office PE28 5UR

• Day 12 - Papworth Everard to Royston 14.9 miles – Starting point Church Lane/ Ermine Street

• Day 13 – Royston to Mountfichet 17.0 miles – Starting point Baldock street/Kneesworth Street

• Day 14 – Mountfichet to Chipping Ongar 14.9 miles – Starting point the Castle

• Day 15 - Chipping Ongar to Upminster 13.4 miles – Starting point High Street in front of Castle

• Day 16 – Upminster to Dartford 6.9 miles – Starting point Hornchurch innkeepers Lodge

• Day 17 – Dartford to West Kingsdown 10.4 miles – Starting point Holiday Inn

• Day 18 – West Kingsdown to Royal Tunbridge Wells 17.5 miles – Starting point London road TN15 6BZ

• Day 19 – Royal Tunbridge Wells to BATTLE 22 .2 miles – Starting point Mt Edgcumbe Hotel