The idea

In the peak of the second lockdown, December 2020, Jim Brace came to us boys with a new idea to raise money and generate awareness for mental health issues - a 24 hour walk along the coast path. 


So we got to thinking, and calculated at 3mph we could 'probably' walk all the way from St Annes Head, 72 miles, to Tenby, 24 hours later.
After a short 14 mile walk to test the water we staggered across South Beach scraping an average of 3mph, for the first time we realised how big a task this was going to be - so much so we have been reluctant to tell many people about it until it has started to look relatively completable.


The route will consist of over 7200ft of elevation and should hopefully take us approximately 24 hours, but if it takes longer, so be it.


Why

Over the last 12 months life has stood still for us all, the Coronavirus pandemic has brought with it its own mental health epidemic. In the face of Covid 19, ONS data shows that 85% of Brits have reported experiencing some form of depression, with severe cases of depression having doubled.


The main thing which has helped us over this period has been getting outside and reconnecting with our beautiful welsh coastline and countryside. Something we are incredibly grateful for, thus we hope that by doing this walk we can:
- Inspire others to get outside and explore their own backyards so that they too can experience “ecotherapy” first hand. (The idea that through engaging with nature and practicing environmental stewardship, we can tackle mental health issues and encourage people to reconnect with their natural environment)
- Encourage people to have an open and honest conversation about mental health and the pressures of the last 12 months, whilst supporting a local charity that does this too!

The charity we have chosen to support is MIND Pembrokeshire . They support our local community in so many ways. Not only do they host regular one on one drop in sessions to talk about your mental health, they also offer housing support, help manage personal finances, they visit victims of loneliness and support them to grow their individual networks, they have a caring program to support carers and their loved ones. But also, they run their own ecotherapy program called Step Outside, which actively encourages people to get out and get active whilst engaging with a friendly face. If you are ever in need of a chat in Pembrokeshire or if you are even looking to volunteer,  we highly recommend MIND Pembrokeshire.

The Details:

We shall be starting the walk on  Friday the 2nd of July, leaving St Annes head at approximately 5pm and hopefully rolling in at the end of South Beach 24 hours later (ish). 

Please give generously to give us all the motivation we need to complete the challenge, to spread awareness around mental health and to support the wonderful charity we have selected!