Hello my name is Ben, I am 35 and will be turning 36 in December 2022. For a long time now I have wanted to walk Hadrian’s Wall and this year when Matt agreed to walk it with us I felt it was the right time to do it. For many a year now I have loved being out and about walking in the countryside and being close to nature. Since Baloo (now 6 yrs old) becoming part of my family 3 ½ years ago when I rescued him he has become my best walking buddy (Sorry Matt) and enables me to explore more and more not only with him but with my girlfriend Claire too.

Being out and about either as a 3 or just me and Baloo walking enables me to relax and recharge the batteries and disconnect with the day to day life. It also allows me time to reflect on my weeks gone and what I have coming up in the next few weeks. Running my own estate agency in Nottingham can be very stressful so I find it good to be able to get out. Me and Baloo will often have the odd one way conversation but he is a good listener and I know he understands me and allows me to share my thoughts.

I have known Matt for many years now but only recently have we re-connected about our mutual love of walking and camping so to have another mate to enjoy the walking and camping with is great and I know me and Matt both share the same thoughts about this amazing charity and we would love to help and encourage other men to talk to others. We have a big stigma in society where men think it isn’t ok to talk to others about how we feel and I know me, Matt and Baloo would all like to change this an help others.

Please help us raise awareness and the importance of being able to talk as men and to take time out to recharge and reflect.

Hi I’m Matt, just turned 39

For many years I’ve been a keen hiker and camper

I started really walking/hiking 13 years ago when we got our beloved Jack Russell X Bob and things really stepped up when we got Basil a Terrier X who sadly passed away a month ago

My wife Nikki isn’t as much of a walker as me so having the dogs allowed me to push my hobby further

I’ve climbed The National 3 Peaks, survived the wild in The Lake District and camped almost everywhere

I’m a bricklayer and have been for nearly 20 years, being in a “man’s man” industry it’s classed as weak for men to show there emotions, to talk about their feelings or just to check if your mate is ok because men don’t talk! Well it is ok for men to talk, if it wasn’t for talking Ben and myself would probably not be doing challenge and it’ll be talking that gets us through it!

I’ve done charity work before but this one matters, not saying the others didn’t, at the time they were the right charity to fundraise for!

Ben and I first met on the football pitch and have spent a lot of time sharing a laugh, having a beer afterwards, until injury and “old” age put a stop to it and like most we fell out of contact with each other, until one day one of us (can’t remember who) commented on a Facebook post and from their the challenge of walking the length of Hadrian’s Wall started!

So please give whatever you can and let’s spread the word it’s ok to talk

Thanks