Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I have decided to do a sponsored walk, well, a bit of trek really, from Hong Kong to Tokyo, Japan, around 2000 miles.

I have been suffering from depression for many years now, at times completely debilitating. It has negatively impacted my life many times over, leading to loss of finances, jobs and relationships. It is so difficult to explain depression to people and they all just think you are having a 'sad day' but it is much deeper than that and , despite what people think, you cant just pull yourself together.

The Samaritans really have helped me on at least 2 occasions, once in the UK (Scotland) and once in Hong Kong, when I thought the world had collapsed around me, the depression taking hold of me and making me self harm and on those two terrible occasions, start planning to take my own life. I called them, when no one else would listen, or because I was ashamed, I couldnt talk to anyone I knew. They listened to me without judging me and gave me that reassurance and let out valve that I needed> I am in no doubt that The Samaritans have helped me to still be here today.

I live in Hong Kong and I teach karate full time, so one of my students will be joining me on this trek. I have found that karate always empowered me, and the gift of martial arts given to me by my instructors Ross and Paul in Scotland will stay with me forever. So, I can think of no better place to walk to than to the headquarters of Japanese Karate in Tokyo to pay my respects to the other part of my life which has saved me...karate.

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