This event is fully endorsed by Norfolk RFU.

I had a mad idea at 2am one day to walk to London to raise money for CALM - a charity which works with male mental health and suicide prevention.

Why?

Someone very close to me has had terrible personal battles with his own mental health. He felt overwhelmed and alone, ultimately making an attempt on his own life. He was 17.

4 years later and whilst he still does struggle, he is now functional, growing in confidence and working on himself - he has made a return to the gym and is considering stepping back in to the sports he loved before his suicide attempt. I couldn't be more proud of the man he is, he is flourishing, blooming and is without a doubt the strongest person I know.

The rugby community seemed an obvious place for me to start to rally support. I am very thankful to Norfolk RFU who fully are fully endorsing this event. I also want to tank members of my own club, Lakenham Hewett RFC, who have welcomed this idea and offered participation. 

I have also reached out to other sportsmen and personal friends to join in with this event and help fundraise for this amazing cause! 

The walk will start at 5am on the 6th August 2021 from outside the Forum in Norwich. It will finish early evening on the 8th August at the London Eye. The whole distance is 111 miles.

I am urging anyone male or female to take part in this walk whether it is 5 miles, 15, 30 or the whole lot. 

The aim is for us all to stand together to show that male mental health isn't something to be silent about, it is not a sign of weakness. It does not make someone less of a man. To show that it is not OK that 75% of all UK suicides are men. That you are never alone.

1 life saving call costs the charity £8. My target is £2000 and I feel that we can do this if we all club together and show unity, we share this and we donate for ourselves, our loved ones and our team mates.

It is never OK to tell someone to "man up"