DEACS’ WEEK Taking on a marathon walk to try and make a difference

THROUGH mutual connections with a member of the team, I became aware of the work and physical challenges the Walk & Talk were undertaking, how that was inspiring others and was determined to help in some way.

As a result I walked a marathon with Mike Fawcett yesterday (Wednesday) to help raise the profile and awareness of what the team are trying to achieve plus some much needed funds for the vital mental health charities Walk & Talk supports.

Walk & Talk was the brainchild of Alex Rigby, a Sergeant in the British Army.

Alex was diagnosed with PTSD in early 2018 following two operational tours of Afghanistan with the Grenadier Guards.

» with Andy Deacon, former Gloucester prop and Longlevens director of rugby

He’d suffered for 10 years before finding the strength to seek help and speak out.

After receiving therapy and support from his wife Becky and family, Alex was able to identify what helped him fight through it.

And that was helping others, raising awareness and removing the stigma associated to mental health.

Alex was determined to make a difference and help those to overcome the fear of speaking out, that ‘It’s ok to not be ok.’

During the Covid lockdown a gentleman called Mike Fawcett from Cricklade, tragically lost two good friends to suicide within two weeks of each other.

This seriously impacted Mike’s own mental wellbeing which culminated in a serious attempt to take his own life which ended in intensive care in Great Western Hospital.

Having seen the devastating effects something like that has on family and loved ones Mike was determined to never go back to that dark place ever again.

One of Mike’s friends who had taken his own life, Elliot Hennel, was a mutual friend and ex-colleague of Alex from their service in the Grenadier Guards.

It was shortly after this, and due to this association, that Mike became aware of what Alex and the team at Walk & Talk were doing - and the rest is history.

Walk & Talk for Mental Health helped Mike on his own journey and inspired him to not only seek professional help for his mental health issues but also walking and talking became a pivotal part of that recovery.

Mike decided to set himself a series of challenges under the Walk & Talk banner and then record and document that journey to recovery online in the hope of inspiring and helping others.

He first completed 100 miles in August followed by 200 miles in September, which included a 35 mile followed by a 40 miler within four days.

This was a huge challenge for a self-confessed overweight and ‘physically rusty’ 47-year-old who has ‘relaxed’ since leaving the military.

Unfortunately, Covid continues to put the brakes on the main Walk & Talk team challenge of walking 200 miles from Tidworth to Wigan in five days.

In lieu of this the team are undertaking Covid friendly challenges to keep up the amazing momentum Walk & Talk for Mental Health has generated.

To date the Walk & Talk for Mental Health team have directly inspired five individuals to tackle their mental health issues and seek professional help.

Two of those have now started therapy and the remaining threehave embarked on that journey and are awaiting dates to begin treatment.

A sixth individual had turned to drink and drugs since leaving the military as a coping mechanism for dealing with their mental pain.

That person has now commenced a 12-week rehabilitation programme directly inspired by others opening up and talking candidly about their own issues.

Please go to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/walkandtalk4mentalhealth to donate.

If you feel you would like to make a difference please do make a donation - and in addition you can buy a Walk and Talk for Mental Health T shirt from Raging Bull Sportswear at

https://www.ragingbullsportswear.com/product-category/ other-sports-education/walkand-talk-for-mental-health/