Around a THIRD of adults and young people described their mental health becoming much worse since the start of the pandemic in March 2020 ¹.

It is estimated that mental health services will require additional capacity for 10 million people as a direct result of the pandemic ².

The World Health Organisation reported a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression globally within the first year of the pandemic ³.

It is clear the last few years have been tough on a lot of people. The current economic climate adds to the stress we've seen people come under. It is my hope the money raised here will allow at least some of those struggling to find the help they need.

Please donate only what you can spare. Thank you in advance for your support.

Mind provides a critical support line to many people suffering from mental health issues both locally and nationally in the UK by creating and distributing resources vital to accessing support as well as campaigning for change. In 2021 / 2022 Mind responded to over 128,000 queries relating to their support and information helplines ; reached over 1.8 million employees through workplace schemes ; provided access to online resources 21.4 million times and campaigned for the reform of the Mental Health Act to ensure better rights for minority groups ⁴ ⁵.

I am walking in aid of Mind in the belief that the funds raised will help combat the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis through their campaigns to provide mental health support to those in need and in their campaigns to represent the voices of those who require a better mental health care system. I require to raise at least, but not limited to, £250 to take part.

This is also a personal journey of reversing the slow weight gain that was accelerated during and after the pandemic. I had it much easier than many people during the pandemic but I developed an unhealthy relationship with food to cope with the isolation,  pushing myself from being overweight to being severely obese. 

Through training for the walk, a personal trainer and a calorie controlled diet I aim to reach 19 stone (120.7KG) from 21 stone (133.0KG) by the time of the walk and to go further beyond. This will be useful as the energy to go up hills is directly tied to how much you weigh! 

The walk will see me travel 34KM in a day along the Jurassic coastline from Corfe Castle to Weymouth while climbing a combined elevation along the journey that surpasses Snowdon (1100m). This will be the first time both travelling more than 16KM on foot as well as climbing the height of a peak!

Follow along for updates on the journey to 34KM!

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1  https://www.mind.org.uk/coronavirus-we-are-here-for-you/coronavirus-research/

2 https://www.nhsconfed.org/articles/increase-demand-mental-health-support-being-felt-across-system

3 https://www.who.int/news/item/02-03-2022-covid-19-pandemic-triggers-25-increase-in-prevalence-of-anxiety-and-depression-worldwide

4 https://www.mind.org.uk/about-us/our-impact/

5 https://www.mind.org.uk/about-us/our-policy-work/mental-health-act-review/