How The Walks Are Helping
Below are testimonies of people who have joined our walks.
Mark
My life took a massive turn for the worse in 2021, due to ill health. This also stopped my operational career of 20yrs in LFB. With my physical/mental health changes, & lack of purpose, I found myself falling into a dark depressive place. I found myself at the fire station emotional & breaking down to a good friend (he knows who he is) Big thanks to him, he told me about Dean & the walks. I contacted Dean & started attending the walk every week for 6 months. Here I felt safe, supported & surrounded by a group of friends. They were all part of my healing process. Without Dean & the support of those men on the walks, I would hate to think where I would have ended up. The positive outcome of attending made me start the Tilgate walk in Crawley. Dean from where I was when I first met you, to where I am now is amazing. Thank you mate for everything.
Peter
I came to the walk in a bad state about 3 years ago while on light duties. The group have been a great support & have helped me to get where I am, always a great bunch of guys that will listen & help support each other through their darkest times to bring out the light, Thank you everyone
Chris
I just wanted to say thank you on a personal note, to you all for helping me in my darkest moments in life, if it wasn't for Peter especially for taking me , & all of you excepting me into the walk & talk I honestly don't know where I would be, I'm truly grateful & can't say thank you enough, it's a pleasure meeting you all on Tuesday mornings, THANK YOU !
Martin
The walk builds freindship & trust in a new group, where you are free to vent about anything, social, domestic or work. Sometimes it's nice to have your say, sometimes it's good to listen, but you always walk away feeling like you are glad you went.
Anonymous
I initially attended the walk to show my support for what I believe is a fantastic and a need initiative, I soon found that being able to converse with others about such a sensitive subject in a informal setting has had a profound effect on my own mental health. I am now and will continue to be a regular attendee.
Anonymous
when I was at my lowest and felt I had nowhere to turn I found the support I needed from my brothers in the LFB. I had a wonderful wife and children but still felt alone. Sometimes its being able to speak to those who know where you are and what you’re going through that’s needed. I honestly don’t know where I would be now without that support. The men’s walk provides a safe space for men to talk to those who can identify with their issues which may otherwise go left unchecked. This is an invaluable service.
Anonymous
The men’s walk has been a great outlet for me, I have found the opportunity to talk to like minded people invaluable, long may it continue
Anonymous
The initial phone call I received from Dean informing me of the walk was my first step to assisting my path to recovery, the great thing about the walk is nobody there passes any judgement of the struggles each individual may have or is still suffering
Anonymous
I was going through an extremely difficult time at the start of this year due to losing my mum in December and had been off work for some time because of it. My guvnor pointed me in the direction of the men's mental health walk run by Dean as an option which could improve the way I felt. I knew there wasn't any pressure to say anything if I didn't feel up to it but I was still extremely apprehensive when turning up on the first occasion to meet people I didn't know whilst at a really low point. I was immediately made to feel welcome and comfortable within the group and before I knew it I'd spent an hour having a conversation with a fellow member about some of the gripes we both had - some related to my issues, some not. But I got so much out of just being there walking outside, talking and listening to other like minded men about anything and everything. Some are facing a bit of a mountain at the moment, some are there to support others because they've faced that mountain previously and know what it's like. I've continued to attend the group as many weeks as I can and I can honestly say this group is the main reason why I'm back at work and starting to feel better about my situation