Ash Winter – Men’s Health Month 2025

🚶‍♂️ The Longest Walk on the Longest Day — 21st June 2025 🌅➡🌇

On Saturday 21st June 2025, I’ll be taking on a personal challenge:

Walking from sunrise to sunset along the Thames Path, covering as much ground as possible in one day to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health month.

This journey is about more than just distance — it’s about shining a light on health, both mental and physical, breaking the stigma, and showing that even the longest, toughest days can be faced one step at a time.

Let’s walk with purpose and make this longest day a step forward for those battling in silence.

Why? June is Men’s Health Month, an annual awareness campaign dedicated to promoting the health and wellbeing of men. My own story goes back to early service life when I was very unfortunate in contracting a tropical disease, spending many months in ICU and a lengthy battle back to some sort of full fitness, following this I was diagnosed with Keratoconus, a degenerative eye disease causing blurred vision, sensitivity, pain, constant irritation and lengthy retinal migraines with currently no cure. Unfortunately, this prompted a huge change in my life and career causing a battle psychologically. I’ve been on a road to recovery for a long time with many obstacles in the way, but I made a promise to myself to use these challenges for good, to raise awareness for the treatment and support available, to push myself and my conditions to the limits to prove that we can go further than we think, to go beyond my limits, so you don’t have to!

In addition to the walk, I will be carrying out an online charity auction to boost fundraising – This will be done via social media and will include, Men Walking and Talking Merchandise, A timepiece from XRAWatches, a Bremont factory tour, Bremont goodie bag and more…

All money raised will go direct to charities close to my heart,

Help for Heroes – A charity that has supported me in the past with my physical and psychological injuries and inspired me to now work for them in recovery services as a case manager, supporting those in need in that position I once was.

Men Walking and Talking CIC – A community group I am proud to be a director of, supporting men’s mental health by breaking down barriers and giving them a safe space to walk and talk.

The Queen’s Royal Hussars Regimental Charity – My regimental charity, supporting those in service, and veterans at times of need.

Other Charities – If a substantial amount of money is raised, I am open to the prospect of donating to smaller charities in desperate need of funds within the local area.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ashlongestday?utm_medium=CR&utm_source=CL

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