That’s what one of the Goff Petroleum marketing team are hoping to achieve. On Monday September 13th, Ben Handford will take his first steps on his week-long challenge, to walk round the perimeter of Norfolk then into Norwich, that’s 220 miles or nearly 500,000 steps.
The Samaritans vision is “fewer people die of suicide” and Ben wants to raise awareness and funds for this charity which has saved his life on at least two separate occasions.
Ben will be starting his challenge from Northgate Hospital in Great Yarmouth, fittingly this is the hospital he was born in and yet today it is a mental health facility. He’ll be carrying everything he needs and will be sleeping in his tent each evening. The first leg see’s Ben walk from Great Yarmouth to Scole and then each day he will walk approximately 35 miles via Thetford, Kings Lynn and then back along the coast. All being well by September the 19th Ben will be arrive in Great Yarmouth for the last leg of the walk back to Norwich Samaritans main office.
The purpose of this challenge is to help raise £10,000 for Norwich Samaritans through donations and sponsorship. This will support them to help others via their unique 24-hour listening service, email, letter or face to face at their Norwich centre.
“I’m over the moon that the kind people at Abel Homes, Hadley and Ottaway, Lovewell Blake, Little Green Button and Nelsons Spirit and have all sponsored me along with a wide range of friends and acquaintances.”
“The Samaritans have been a wonderful tool, there to listen to me without judgement, the opportunity to share my dark thoughts without causing pain to a loved one has been priceless. Walking these days really is medicine for my mind, body and soul, so many metaphors are true, it’s about putting one foot in front of the other and slowly but surely making forward progress.”
If you would like to support Ben on his challenge you can via https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/walknorfolk
or text WEHEARU to 70450 to donate £3 to Norwich Samaritans. Text’s cost £3 plus one standard rate message.