The last few years have been very tough for me and my close family and my mental health has suffered as a consequence.
I went from working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week to not wanting to get out of bed in the morning.
Luckily I have a great family and a few good friends who were always there and supported me when I was at my lowest. In particular my friends Jan and Pete offered their home in County Clare, Ireland to me whenever I needed to get away. I took up their kind offer and whilst I was there I discovered that walking was a tremendous help to my mental health.
I walked for miles on my own, allowing my mind to untangle thoughts and sort out what I wanted from life.
The countryside around the Loophead Peninsula is very beautiful and as I walked towards the lighthouse at the end of the Peninsula I had the idea to walk from my home in Ombersley, Worcestershire back to the lighthouse. This journey is around 400 miles and I'm going to raise money for 3 charities.
The first charity is called Men Walking and Talking based near my home town.
The second is West Clare Cancer Support, a charity based at my destination. The third charity is one close to Jan and Pete's hearts; Liberty Soup Run based in Dublin.