Walk4Wellbeing

SignHealth invites you to take part in a virtual event which will get the whole community walking on the 4th of July 2020. Everybody is welcome to take part.

Not only can you raise money for Deaf people's mental health services, by getting outside for some fresh air, you can do some good for your own physical and mental wellbeing.

Last year, Daniel organised the Two Deaf Foot walk from John O' Groats to Land's End. In 58 days, they walked over 1,035 miles from Scotland to Cornwall to fundraise for SignHealth's work in mental health. We have organised our virtual walk this year to honour Daniel, and fundraise to improve services for Deaf people with mental health challenges. You can experience for yourself what it was like for them both.

Want to know what the event will be like?

You can choose one of the following distances to cover:

- 10km

- 25 km

- 40 km

Then

1) Download Strava app, register your details

2) Choose which distance you'd like to walk in

3) Be ready at 9 am on 4th July 2020 when the virtual whistle blows

You can share the details along the way with friends and family on Facebook by taking selfies on your walk and include #Walk4Wellbeing #TeamSignHealth. Once you have completed the walk, you can share your achievement on Facebook for all to see!

A suggested donation of £10 can be made here on the Walk4Wellbeing JustGiving page. Or you can 'Be a Fundraiser' and aim to raise £100 from friends and family.

Dont forget to kit yourself out in SignHealth's colours by wearing something pink and/or purple. You could wear a t-shirt or wig, wave a banner, or even go all out and dye your hair and paint your nails! Post a picture on social media of yourself all dressed up with the #Walk4Wellbeing and Daniel will choose who wins the award for best outfit.

If you like being competitive then you can time yourself and try to complete your distance in the fastest time. There will be awards in the 10k, 25k and 40k distances for people with the best times coming in first, second, or third place.

We look forward to your support in this fundraiser for SignHealth!

The past few months of lockdown have been tough, and Deaf people's mental health has suffered, especially with issues around lack of access to mainstream services, to interpreter provision, therapies, and increased levels of domestic abuse. Your fundraising efforts will help SignHealth provide more access to these important services.

SignHealth works to improve the health and wellbeing of Deaf people. We provide services directly in British Sign Language (BSL), working in partnership with the NHS and campaigning for change.

Deaf people are twice as likely as hearing people to experience mental health problems, often due to social isolation caused by communication barriers and a lack of wider awareness of the problems that Deaf people face. On top of this, we do not have equal access to the mental health services that hearing people do. SignHealth provides a range of services that help to combat this.