Hello friends, family, and fellow dog lovers!

LINK TO TEAM PAGE: https://www.justgiving.com/team/menandtheirdogs/

We are excited to announce our upcoming "Men & their Dogs" Walking Weekend in support of MANUP! This fantastic event will take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, from Saturday, 26th August to Monday, 28th August, at the Peak District National Park. We will be embarking on two epic 25km walks, one on Saturday and another on Monday, with a well-deserved rest day in between for us and our four-legged friends to recharge.

Our goal is to raise £5000 for MANUP, an incredible organisation dedicated to flipping the meaning of "man up" to encourage men to be brave enough to talk about their most difficult emotions, and also encourage others to do so. While our event is predominantly aimed at raising awareness for men's mental health issues, we warmly welcome people of all genders to join us and raise funds for our cause or a cause close to their hearts. You are also welcome to come for just one of the walks, if you would like to do a shorter distance. It goes without saying that you don't have to have a dog to join us! You should probably love them though, otherwise it might be a stressful weekend for you.

My little fur baby is called Simba, he is a 5 month old (at the time of writing) Cockapoo, he has helped me to get out of the house, exercise, clean, wake up on time, laugh, and just generally live a much happier life! So, I thought, why not combine 3 transformative mental health therapies into one big event to raise money for a worthy cause; walking, dogs, and friends!

Men's mental health is a topic that desperately needs our attention. Some alarming statistics put this issue into perspective:

- Suicide is the leading cause of premature death among men, with men being three times more likely to take their own lives compared to women.

- Approximately one in eight men in the UK experience a mental health problem, yet they are far less likely to seek help than women.

- 35% of Men believe that they have had a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their lives.

This being said, we have made some amazing leaps forward in mental health in the last 15 years, some more positive stats:

- Men are now almost three times more likely to see a therapist when worried or low than in 2009

- The number of men who have suicidal thoughts when feeling worried or low has doubled to 10% since 2009

I feel a strong personal connection to this cause, as I live with anxiety and previously battled with depression. In 2017, I faced one of the darkest moments of my life, leading to an attempt on my own life. Thankfully now much better, my experience has fueled my passion for advocating for mental health awareness and support. Additionally, many of my direct family members struggle with mental health conditions of various forms, further emphasizing the importance of this issue in my life.

Moreover, I tragically lost a friend from university who seemed happy and content on the outside but never shared his mental health struggles with any of his friends. His sudden passing is a stark reminder of how crucial it is to create an environment where men feel comfortable opening up about their mental health.

By participating in the "Men & their Dogs" Walking Weekend, we hope to create a supportive space where men can bond and share their experiences while raising funds for this essential cause. Your generous donation to our JustGiving page will make a significant impact on countless lives, helping to reshape the narrative around men's mental health.

Together, we can make a difference and show the world that it's time to MANUP! Every step we take, and every pound we raise, brings us closer to a world where men feel supported and empowered to address their mental health challenges.

Thank you for your support, and we can't wait to share this adventure with you!

#MenAndTheirDogs #WalkingWeekend #MANUP? #MentalHealthMatters