On September 1st 2018, a group of us will be setting off on a mammoth walk across Sussex, which will take us from our starting point at Bognor Pier, through Littlehampton, East Preston, Angmering and Worthing, all the way to Brighton’s Palace Pier; approximately 30+ miles!
We are undertaking this challenge as a tribute to our friend Chris, who in August of 2017, lost his battle with depression and took his own life. Chris, our ‘Booleybear’, was a kind, fun, gentle-giant, who never had a bad word to say about anybody and was always the first to say yes to any social function! As a group, we knew that Booley was going through a tough time, but we didn’t know just how bad he was suffering. Mental health isn’t something “lads” talk about, so he never reached out to us or really told us the scale of the disease he was fighting.
The statistics surrounding mental health, in particular suicide, are shocking. Did you know that the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK is suicide? That in 2014, 76% of suicide victims were men? And that 42% of men aged 18-45 have contemplated suicide? It’s something that just simply has to change, which is why we are raising money for the mental health charity Mind, who provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.
Our journey will take us through some of the places which played a big part in Booley’s life and the exact route we plan to take will be released nearer the time, so if you’re available on the day, please feel free to join us for a section of the walk and tell us a story about Booley or provide us with some much-needed refreshments! 😊
Monetary donations are extremely welcome, as it will go to a great cause and help us break the stigma that it’s not cool for men to talk about their problems. (Please don’t forget to tick that gift aid box, as every penny counts!)
Thank you! x – LH, AT, JA, JB, WJ, KL, JH, JP.
