This long-distance challenge aims to raise funds for the Mental Health Foundation as well as increase awareness around mental health issues in memory of my mum, Gill Hayes, who I tragically lost to suicide in January 2021.

Jamie Khan, Charlie Fanous and I are aiming to walk 120km non-stop in under 40 hours. The route will start on the 19^th of March in Pangbourne, my childhood home and home to many nostalgic memories, and follow the Thames path to finish on the 20^th of March at my mum’s old local pub in Hammersmith, The Old Ship.

Gill fought a long hard battle with depression and was lucky enough to survive a suicide attempt in 2013, making a miraculous recovery. She then showed remarkable courage with her campaigning for issues surrounding mental health, including a TEDx talk in 2017 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiOVX7qKQ24). As such, it came as a huge shock to me when she took her own life last year. This highlighted how the destructive power of depression can make someone do something completely at odds with their normal loving character.

The stigma surrounding depression and mental health illnesses has greatly improved in recent years however there is still a long way to go in understanding and tackling this debilitating illness.

The Mental Health Foundation is the UK’s charity for everyone’s mental health. With prevention at the heart of what they do, the Mental Health Foundation aims to find and address the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive. Your donations will help fund important research, influence policy decisions, and fund all-important community programs. More can be found about The Mental Health Foundation at: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/

If anyone at all would like to join us for a section of the walk, please do get in contact!

Your support and donations will make a real difference and are hugely appreciated.

Follow our progress on Instagram @thepennsylvaniaplodders