The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
This hardy group
FUNDRAISING: Group to walk from Tay to Queensferry Crossing
are preparing to head off on a 51-mile walk through Fife from the Tay Bridge to the Queensferry Crossing tomorrow, raising money for mental health charity Andy’s Man Club. Picture: Dougie Nicolson.
Three generations of women are taking on a mammoth walking challenge to raise awareness of men’s mental health issues.
A group of seven females, aged from eight to 73, will embark on a 51-mile expedition this weekend, walking between two bridges which have been the scene of suicides.
Val Lindsay, along with family and friends, decided to take up the challenge of trekking between the Tay Bridge and the Queensferry Crossing after taking up walking during lockdown.
The family was inspired by friend Ritchie Peter-Tennant, who set up the Walk and Talk men’s support events in Dundee and Angus.
Val, 49, from Broughty Ferry, said:
“My friend broke her wrist just before lockdown and she had a new baby so she had to move in with me for help.
“We had loads of free time so we just started walking everywhere.
“As lockdown restrictions eased more people got involved. My niece joined us then my mum, then two friends.
“We were challenging each other to go further every week so we’ve walked to Carnoustie, then Perth and St Andrews.
“My mum, who is 73, said ‘let’s walk to Edinburgh’ as a joke but we didn’t know she was joking and agreed to it.”
The group, who will set off on the 18-hour trip at 8pm on Saturday, is made up of Val, her friend Chez Lesley from Newport, mum Janet Roberts, nieces April Roberts, 17, and Lucie Jones, 8, as well as sister-in-law Louise Walker, 29, from Aberdeen and 17-year-old Brodie Hamill.
Ritchie will join the team for part of the walk but otherwise, the only males will be Chez’s seven-month old son, Lucas, and 15-year-old Labrador, Skip.
Donations can be made at gofundme. com/f/bridge-2-bridge-for-andys-manclub-dundee