On 10 September, I'm joining the challenge to walk 1 million steps for Shout on Suicide Prevention Day.

It’s time to stop all of this procrastinating 

It’s time to quit the wondering and the ruminating

It’s time to step up and out to raise awareness of Suicide prevention

By joining Ben West in his bid to walk One Million steps, that is my intention

Ben is walking on Sunday 10th September on Wandsworth Common by Tooting Bec

Lots of people will meet up with him and join him on his trek 

It’s just a tad too far away for me to walk by his side

So I’m joining in by walking round my village in the Buckinghamshire countryside

My village is a wonderful horseshoe shape 

I’ve been out sizing up the horseshoe with my measuring tape

One round is about 2,100 steps

So I could do about 21,000 steps in 10 reps

It’s roughly 1.6km or, if you prefer, that’s one mile

As I walk the 10 miles I will continue to smile.

10 times round my village would take a good 3 hours or maybe more.

I think you know what I am doing it for?

Awareness of suicide prevention is without doubt the most important thing 

Shout 85258 offers in the moment text support for someone whose life and well being is hanging by a string 

More people die from suicide than from murder and war,

It makes sense that we need to raise awareness and talk about it more.

Text Shout to 85258 for free 24/7 confidential support by phone

There is no need to ever be alone

If you could spare a pound or two, I don’t expect or ask for a lot.

Every little will help to nourish the Shout fundraising pot. 

Every 60 seconds, someone reaches out to Shout for support and has a conversation that could save their life.

£10 can pay for a conversation with someone in crisis

£25 can fund a clinician to provide expert supervision of conversations on Shout's digital mental health platform.

£250 can train a new Shout Volunteer to take life-saving conversations.