Story
Walking 4 Hope – One Step at a Time
Walking 4 Hope is a Nottinghamshire-based charity dedicated to promoting good mental health and building resilience as a preventative measure against suicidal thoughts.
What We Do Locally
Our community work is inclusive and supportive. We run:
Weekly peer-to-peer wellbeing walks - Walking 4 Hope
Weekly peer to peer support group - Talking 4 Hope
Monthly arts and crafts groups - Creating 4 Hope
We are working toward creating more safe support sessions to help people reconnect with nature, regulate emotions, and strengthen resilience.
Our vision is to develop a base camp hub in Mansfield/Sutton-in-Ashfield, offering even more groups and activities for local people to connect, grow, and build self-worth. And to support us to support suicide prevention throughout the U.K.
John’s Extreme Challenges – Raising Awareness
To raise awareness and grow Walking 4 Hope, our founder John Bell takes on personal extreme challenges. After losing his 15-year-old son, Jake, John struggled with suicidal thoughts himself. Instead of giving up, he chose to live as the best version of himself for Jake — and now pushes his limits to inspire hope.
John has tackled mountains, long-distance trails, and endurance challenges — often dressed as his son’s favourite Marvel character, Deadpool. He also carries a bathtub with rubber ducks on the bath, each representing a loved one lost to suicide whether that be misadventure, accidental or any other complexities surrounded by the word suicide.
These challenges are John’s way of raising the profile of Walking 4 Hope, suicide prevention, and other initiatives across the UK, while our groups remain safe and open to all.
Recognition
John’s efforts have gained national recognition:
Endorsed by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney
Supported by Mansfield Town FC owners Caroline and John Radford
Awarded the Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award
Winner of the Daily Mirror Regional Fundraiser of the Year and finalist at the Pride of Britain Awards
🚶🛁 The Next Challenge – April 2026
Next Easter, John (aka Dadpool) will be taking on his biggest challenge yet — carrying the bathtub the full length of the UK, completing the famous JOGLE route from John O’Groats to Land’s End.
🏃♂️ John aims to cover around a marathon a day (25–30 miles daily).
🛣️ The route, approximately 1,000 miles, is being carefully planned to ensure it is accessible for the bathtub.
⏳ The journey will begin on 17th April 2026 and is expected to take around one month to complete.
👣 Each day will be split into 2–3 segments, passing through local towns and villages, giving the public the chance to join, connect, and walk alongside John.
Families will also have the opportunity to honour loved ones by adding a name to a duck displayed on the bath 🦆 or a photo on the Walking 4 Hope flag carried throughout the challenge.
📅 Submission cut-off: 28th February 2026 (later entries will be carried forward to future challenges).
Why Donate?
By supporting Walking 4 Hope, you help us to:
Keep local community groups running
Build our vision of a base camp hub
Raise awareness nationally about suicide prevention
Highlight the work of PAPYRUS and their 24-hour HOPELINE service
Quote from John
“Losing my son Jake taught me the most precious lesson about how to live and how to love. I carry him in my heart every day, and that love is why I choose to keep living. For me, walking through that grief felt like breaking through to another part of the human mind — a place I’d never known before where I discovered a strength and purpose I didn’t realise I had. It hasn’t ‘cured’ everything, and I know everyone’s journey is different, but I’ve learned I can choose life again and find joy in becoming the best version of myself. If my story helps even one person find a reason to stay, then Jake’s life — and my choice to live — has mattered.”
— John Bell