'Our walking group is a lifeline for women'

An early morning walking group aimed at helping women with their mental health has become a "lifeline" for members, its founder said.

Leesa Collinge, from Haxby, started walking to clear her head after her mum was diagnosed with lung cancer.

She was joined by friends at first before launching Rant & Ramble, which now has 100 members.

Leesa said local GPs had recommended the group to patients, adding: "It's not just about people coming here that are in crisis, it's about coming and having fun."

"It came about because my mum got poorly. Until then, I never really did lots of walking," said Leesa, 43.

"Walking was the only thing that I could do to clear my head."

Leesa's mum was diagnosed with cancer in February 2023 and was told she could live for up to 18 months with treatment.

"She was so ill, so I just thought I needed to get my head sorted. I need to be here for my mum," Leesa said.

In November 2023, her mum died and Leesa started to grow her group of walking friends, which improved her mental health.

On a Thursday, the women start walking from Haxby at 06:30, completing 10,000 steps before their children wake up.

"It really is early but no one regrets coming on the walk. Everyone feels amazing after," Leesa said.

"We literally talk about everything and anything and we have such a laugh along the way."

However, Rant & Ramble came to the rescue for one member who found it by chance.

"Our very first walk, it was like my mum was watching down that day because we went to Yearsley Woods and there was a lady sat in the car," Leesa explained.

"She had her head in her hands and we asked if she was here for Rant & Ramble."

The woman said no but the group encouraged her to join in.

"She used to come to Yearsley Woods twice a day and cry once on a morning at 10:00 and then once in the afternoon at 15:00 again on her own with a dog," the organiser said.

"She said that we were her saving angels that day.

"She'd lost a job, she'd gone through a massive mental breakdown, it was horrendous."

Leesa said the member was now doing much better, with a new job and a sense of hope.

"If we can do that for one person, how many people can we help that are struggling in York?" Leesa said.

"There must be hundreds that are just struggling in silence and that's what we want to change."

More members have joined the walking group, after being directed to it by their GP surgery.

According to Leesa, Haxby Group Practice said it would put information about Rant & Ramble in its newsletter.

"What started as a simple walking group has become a lifeline," she added.

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