Story
<p><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">Where do I start - Ian was a fun loving, heart & soul of the party guy, intelligent, talented in so many different ways and very witty yet dogged by inner fears and self doubt. He finally gave up his struggle with life on 20th October 2010 - another low period was the return of a deep seated depression Ian had had for years, that he had hoped to beat, that I thought he had beaten. The utter devastation, the why's & what if's that torment those left behind scream out for a need for greater understanding & accepting of what is still a</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> stigmatised</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;"> and desperately lonely illness.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">For my birthday last September Ian bought me the full boxed set of Wainwright walks that I had desired for sometime. He included a message 'in anticipation of you walking my socks off'. Hence it is that </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">in June on two consecutive weekends I have committed myself to completing two challenge walks – a 38 mile walk round two of the ‘Rings of</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Shap</span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">’ 18 June and the 30 mile Durham Dales Challenge on the 25 June. I am walking for Ian and with Ian in my head and my heart, & for MHRUK. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">MHRUK is a new charity supporting the urgent need for research into mental health issues and to encourage individuals and society to lift the lid of suppressed emotions, thoughts and feelings that blight lives. </span>I don't have a target - just drive, energy and determination to raise as much as I can in memory of a great and loving guy, my partner, a brother to Richard, Anne and Dave's son and a true friend to countless people of all ages and who is so much loved and missed more than words could ever express. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">Please give whatever you are able in loving memory of and as a tribute to Ian. It won't bring Ian back but it could help so many others in a similar mental state and I feel sure Ian would want that to happen. Ian didn't think he had anything to give but gave in abundance of himself, his time, his knowledge, skills and creativity and love bringing happiness and care and fun to so many. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p>
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<p>So please dig deep and donate what ever you feel able now.</p>
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<p>12th July 2011 - update</p>
<p>Both challenge walks now completed. The first - 42 not just 38 miles in 14hrs and 32 mins - in hardly the best of conditions at Shap and with a troublsome right leg. See photo - wearing T-shirt specially printed for me by Rachel and Steve. Ian would have thought I was crazy but would have kept me going with texts while he waited for me with a pint of Guiness at the ready. The 30 mile walk was a breeze by comparison - completed in 8hrs 36 mins.</p>
<p>The response has been overwhelming and I thank everyone so much for their support and generosity. I didn't have a target. I thought I may raise £300.00. As donations came in £500.00 seemed a possibility. Now I know that £1000.00 is achievable. Ian would be astonished.</p>
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<p>All our efforts are not going to bring him back into this world but they keep his memory alive and in so doing help others who struggle with life in the same way and suffer a similar hidden pain.</p>
<p>20th July 2011</p>
<p>Target of £1000.00 reached - thrilled and gobsmacked. I thank everyone so much - I am overwhelmed.</p>
<p>21st July</p>
<p>Another generous cash donation - so now target+.</p>
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<p>11th September</p>
<p>Thank you so much to family and friends who continue to support me and donate.</p>
<p>The community of Weardale through sponsorship and contibutions to Ian's pint pot of 'Special Brew has raised £119.75 - thank you to everyone.</p>
<p>The total raised to date, today is £1244.75.</p>
<p>I continue to 'Walk for Ian'. Another two challenge walks of 24 & 26 miles completed in August. The last one, 'The Smuggler's Trod' left me battered and bruised and sporting a black eye - looks as if I had battled with a smuggler!!. In effect it was a walk following 24 hours of rain so a mud bath in places. If all goes well & I feel able I am hoping to complete my greatest challenge todate - 50 miles on 15th October. Additional contributions/sponsorship for this effort very welcome if you can stretch to it.</p>
<p>For anyone wanting to understand more about mental health I can recommend Lewis Wolpert's 'Malignant Sadness'. I have read it avidly since buying it yesterday with Rachel - trying to understand Ian's deep pain.</p>