04 Sep “You’ll never walk alone” – taking that first step walking with others to improve your health

EVERY Tuesday I host a three-hour radio show on Riviera FM that celebrates all things volunteering (tune in 10am-1pm on 107.9FM or listen online. You can also listen to past episodes on MixCloud – look for “Good Morning South Devon with David Gledhill”, usually uploaded on Tuesday afternoons)

It gives me the opportunity to invite guests in to discuss why volunteers and volunteering are important to them; it is always fascinating.

I have been lucky enough to chat with many people covering a wide range of subjects from water sports to walking and gardening to lifesaving. Volunteers really do make the world go around.

Vick Jackson from MenWalkTalk joined David on-air last Tuesday

Last week, I was joined by Vick Jackson, a fascinating woman who has travelled the world and moved home more than 30 times, but for now, at least, she is concentrating her efforts here in the Bay.

She represents an amazing organisation called MenWalkTalk and yes, the title says it all – men who walk and talk their way to better physical and mental health.

Did you know that suicide is the biggest killer of men under 36? No, neither did I; MenWalkTalk aims to lower not just that figure but also improve the health and well-being of men of all ages.

At the core of walking groups like MenWalkTalk is the premise that men do not talk enough and, rather than expressing the truth, will often respond to the question ‘How are you doing?’ with a single dismissive word response. Fine.

Walking and talking not only brings people together but also allows subjects to be discussed without the sometimes-difficult eye contact that makes some feel uncomfortable, and it does work. Better, more open conversations and improvements in both mental and, through walking, physical health.

Vick hopes to find volunteers to lead the walks (with a minimum of training) and people to participate, hopefully, in towns across the Bay (go to www.menwalktalk.co.uk.

From a personal point of view, I know how important walking can be when you are going through a difficult time. Soon after my wife died, I started to join a group of friends who walked around Brixham every morning, and it made a massive difference on so many levels.

First, was plucking up the courage to leave home. Second, was engaging with others in an open and honest way. Third was listening to what others had to say, and fourth was the physical effort of a five-mile walk. Strangely the easiest part by far, was the walking.

My group is informal and includes a group of friends who support each other without question and with care and compassion. It comes naturally and it is reassuring to know that they are there through the good times and the bad.

I have been walking with them now for more than 18 months; I have never been fitter, and my mental health continues to improve. If there is a setback, which in times of grief, there inevitably is, then there is a supportive shoulder to lean on.

I now look forward to the walk and have adjusted my bedtime to suit the early start (I have never before seen so many consecutive sunrises) and I am happy to say my heart rate has come down by around 30% leaving me fitter now, at aged 64 than I have ever been.

Our naturally inspiring landscape in Torbay means that there are a lot of walking groups informal and formal and our Community Builders regularly help set up and support groups such as the one  I joined last week led by Gill Knight our CB for Paignton South, Goodrington, Roselands, White Rock, Hookhills, Broadsands Galmpton and Churston.

It was a joyous affair – around 30 walkers, six dogs and people of all abilities, including one 82-year-old with a white cane, someone with breathing difficulties and several with walking poles for support, who set out in bright sunshine from Churston Court to walk the relatively flat route into Brixham.

It was a gentle pace which allowed for lots of chatter, with regular pauses to allow for the slower ones to catch up. Everyone was looking out for each other with old friendships strengthened and new friendships forged.

By the time we arrived in Brixham two miles (and the best part of two hours) later, most of the group had met each other and many had made plans to catch up outside the group.

There is a walk for everyone. If you want to take the first step (pun intended) by contacting your Community Builder, all of whose contact details can be found at www.torbaycommunities.com/builders