Ben wants to raise money for Stand Together and Recover CIO by walking the entire length of the Fylde coast... AND back! Stand Together and Recover is a small mental health charity in Blackpool. We are run by people with mental health conditions for people with mental health conditions. Since settling up this walk others have asked to join in and we are happy to have Leann and Helen join.

He joined our group during the lockdown and has since become and invaluable volunteer for us, working hard to help us open our new building. Alongside this he wants to walk the entire Fylde coast to raise money for us.

Ben says that walking the Fylde coast has been a personal well-being goal of his for a number of years and that there is no better reason than raising money for a charity that has helped him.

Leann says, "I've suffered with My mental health for a good few years well since I was 20 and I'm now 37 so a very long time. I suffer with bipolar and personality disorder. I got it under control for years. Then boom. Something went wrong in my life and it started up again. This past year and half has been a living hell. I've been depressed, angry, confused, upset, and felt like I was going backwards not forwards. I've not been able to control my anger, my emotions have been all over the place I've pushed people away. And then the virus appeared which made it worst as well. I had to isolate with my 7 year old son for 4 months in the first lockdown due to him not being out of treatment for cancer a year. It took a toll on me. As me and his dad did 50/50 contact since we broke up 4 years before. I recently moved to Blackpool for a fresh start and have felt very lonely. I joined this walk to make new friends and raise money for charity."

Helen says "I like to do my bit for local charities and I suppose this has come at the right time, location and you have supported some of my patients who have mental health and accessed your group. I also like waking and love Blackpool prom and walk approx 8 miles every Sun so walking for a good cause is just perfect. I'm happy be part of this, looking forward to it"

If you would like to help Ben, Leann and Helen in their goal of raising money for STAR then please donate.

The walk will now take place on the 27th of March due to bad weather. They will be starting at 6am from Lytham windmill.