Chairzam Life Fitness members walk from Blackpool to Rochdale for charity

Members of the Chairzam Life Fitness gym walked from Blackpool to Rochdale

Members of the Chairzam Life Fitness gym, including owner Craig Kirby and qualified Mental Health Nurse, Coleen John, have raised over £2,000 for charity after completing a walk from Blackpool to Rochdale.

They completed the challenge in 12 hours, to raise awareness around mental health and suicide prevention and to show others that they are not alone in their battles, that they have a place to go and be themselves without being judged.

Eighteen Chairzam Life Fit Members – who were assisted by two support vehicles and volunteer drivers – completed the tough challenge, made tougher by non-stop rain from start to finish.

All the money raised has been donated to a charity called MQ: Transforming mental health through research, who aim to create a world where mental illness is understood, effectively treated, and ultimately prevented.

One in four people in the UK are living with a mental health condition. That is nearly 15 million people with an illness that affects their wellbeing, their relationships with family and friends, and their ability to work.

Mr Kirby said: “We would like to thank all the people who sponsored our efforts and Granada Handling Materials Ltd for supplying and paying for our Minibus.

"Community spirit is what binds us together, and once all the money has been collected we will have managed to raise well in excess of £2,000 for the most-worthy of causes.”