Colleague's epic walk for mental health charity

A 150-mile walk home to Reading from Lyme Regis has allowed one colleague to raise awareness of mental health and the power of walking.

Nathan Bingham, Communications and Engagement Manager in the Applicant Engagement Team, completed the epic challenge over five days last week in support of Sport In Mind, a Reading-based mental health sports charity.

Alongside his friend, Jack Wright, Nathan took on the challenge to highlight the importance of walking for mental health ahead of National Walking Month this May, Reading Walks Festival (11-19 May), and Mental Health Awareness Week (13-19 May).

The pair hiked the Jurassic Coast, Swanage, Bournemouth, Southampton, Winchester and Basingstoke before arriving in Forbury Gardens in Reading town centre on 28 April.

Walking pledges

Rather than ask for sponsorship, Nathan is asking others to pledge to plan their own (shorter) walk with a friend or loved one as a chance to have a meaningful conversation about how they are feeling.

He and Jack have a target of 150 walk pledges via their Padlet map – one for each mile they covered themselves – and have already seen more than 100 people from all over the world sign up.

Nathan said: “The walk was an amazing adventure that had a bit of everything, and that's not even mentioning the weather. We took around 300,000 steps - with a lot of this along the amazing south-west coastal path which was my personal highlight of the journey.

“On our last two days we were joined by lots of fellow walkers, who helped keep us going all the way to the finishing line in Reading!

“With National Walking Month this month, it would be great to see others pledge their own walk on the map, and take a colleague, friend or family member out for a catch up.”

Get active for National Walking Month

A Sport in Mind walk has been arranged on Whiteknights campus from 13:00-14:00 on 17 May, in partnership with the SportsPark. Find out more in the event listing.

The walk is one of many taking place that week in the local area as part of Reading Walks Festival.

If walking isn’t your thing, there are loads of ways to get active at the SportsPark – including new, more inclusive exercise classes launched as part of its new Sport and Active Wellbeing Vision.

Image 1: Nathan Bingham (right) and friend Jack Wright (left) on the Jurassic Coast during their charity walk.
Image 2: Nathan Bingham (left) and friend Jack Wright (right) battle on through the rain.