Doncaster Samaritans volunteer takes on 6,000 mile charity trek - again
A Doncaster man who took on a gruelling 6,000 mile walk to every single Samaritans branch in the UK is doing the challenge all over again.
Back in 2019, David Matthews raised awareness of the mental health charity with his Listening Walk, visiting all 201 Samaritans branches across the UK and Ireland and completed the walk two years later in 2021.
He’s now doing it all over again – and this time round his journey began in Knoydart in Scotland in September, where he aims to return in October 2026.
Mr Matthews said: "I was reading the news about the suicide rates going up again and the people struggling... and I thought actually there's probably more need now than there was in 2019."
"I wasn't going to do it but then remembering the stories about the first walk and the people I met and then the pandemic came literally halfway through. That messed the whole thing up and I'd sort of put all that to the back my mind and then I thought actually it wasn't as great as I'd hoped it would be," he said.
He raised more than £20,000 last time and wants to hit £50,000 this time.
"If I had one wish, it would be for everyone to know they are not alone in their moment of need," he said.
"Every journey we take in life has its challenges and out of these come some amazingly positive experiences and knowing that many of you will be inspired to donate gives me the strength and courage to complete this walk."