Martin's March to Ham Hill
Football Services Officer, Martin McConachie, is raising money this March by marching to Ham Hill
GFA Football Services Officer, Martin McConachie, is on the march during March as he hopes to raise £500 for Talk Club, a UK male mental health charity.
The 56-year-old, who works in Almondsbury & lives in Oldland Common, is ten months into a year-long challenge to lose seven stone and is well on target, having lost almost six stone but needs a late boost to ensure he crosses the finishing line successfully. To that aim, Martin plans to run, walk, cycle and row 67km (of each!) during March and in doing so, help to highlight Talk Club’s excellent work in their field. But why 67km?
“I grew up in a small Somerset village overlooked by a beautiful country park called Ham Hill” explained Martin.” It holds great memories for me and even now, four decades after I left, it remains my ‘happy place’. I return several times a year to walk, recharge my batteries & enjoy a meal and a cider at the Prince of Wales pub. It’s just the best way to spend an afternoon.”
Having moved up to Bristol in 1999, Martin now lives 41.7 miles (67km) from Ham Hill, the exact distance that he will cover in each of the four disciplines. “I had the idea of raising money for Talk Club in particular as I’ve struggled with my own mental health in the recent past. Combining this with the extra motivation to keep going seemed to be a win/win situation.
“I’ll be running and walking in the great outdoors, but the cycling and rowing will take place in the Active Gyms in Bradley Stoke & Longwell Green as I don’t own a bike or a boat! The rowing is the only one I’m worried about, but I’m sure with some strong support, I’ll sail through it.”
Talk Club was initiated in Bristol but is now UK-wide and with more than three quarters of suicides being male and a male under 60 dying every 90 minutes, their work is more vital and relevant than ever. With a mix of talking, listening, exercise and therapies, Talk Club’s simple aim is to change the numbers of men and support their mental fitness.
You can see more of Talk Club’s work at www.talkclub.org
Martin’s March to Ham Hill will begin on Saturday 1st March with a parkrun in Bristol and end with a 10k run in Gloucester on Sunday 30th March. You can support him by visiting www.justgiving.com/page/hamdonmart