A group of football fans are walking the 26 miles from Reading's Select Car Leasing Stadium to Wycombe Wanderers' Adam's Park on Friday night ahead of the League One meeting to raise awareness for men's mental health.
Walk and Talk Men's Mental Health are an organisation raising money and awareness for mental health, and do so by organising charity walks around football grounds.
First organised back in 2015 by Lee Adams, a Fulham supporter who has had battles with his mental health, more than 600 people have part in over 10,000 miles worth of walks to raise awareness.
At 11.30 pm on Friday evening, the group will leave the former Madejski Stadium and aim to arrive at Adam's Park on Saturday morning, ahead of the meeting between the two sides at 3 pm.
CALLING ALL READING AND WYCOMBE WANDERERS FANS!!!!
— #WalkAndTalkMMH (@WalkAndTalkMMH) November 18, 2023
On the 24th November we will be walking from Reading to Wycombe to raise awareness about men's mental health. Here's the details about start time and distance. Hope to see you there#SAVETHEMALE #readingfc #wwfc #walkandtalkmmh pic.twitter.com/B8F0wS8P3U
George Campbell, a Reading supporter who has been a part of multiple walks over the last five years, has explained why people should get involved.
"It was started off by the head of the charity, Lee," he told the Reading Chronicle. "He suffered with his mental health and thought about how to help others so they don’t have to go through what he went through. He wanted to combine it with one of his favourite things, football. It acts as an icebreaker to be able to make it easier for people to talk to each other and open up.
"There has been a bit of activity on X [formerly Twitter] and I have gone onto the Reading and Wycombe fan groups to spread the message. It’s not football club exclusive, it is for fans of all clubs. We have got members of the charity who support Bracknell, Scottish football fans, a Rotherham fan, and Lee is a Fulham fan. Walking from ground to ground and tying it in with a matchday adds a bit of a fun element to it.
"When you are walking, you’re not concentrating on much else. You’re concentrating on where you’re going. If you’re walking with people, you naturally talk to people because you point things out and the conversation is more likely to go onto more personal issues. If someone is looking for advice, they are more likely to open up because you’re away from people listening in or people who might judge you.
"I’ve met so many great people through the walking and that is all down to Lee for starting it. I would mention my mate, who first talked me into doing it, he’s a machine. He will walk and plough on for hours. He suffers with cerebral palsy, but he doesn’t let it bother him at all and he is an inspiration. He is not judged by anyone there; it is a welcoming atmosphere and if it is an overnight walk we might even have a few beers."
Click here for more information on how to get involved.
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