Mental health fundraiser in cross-UK walk challenge

A mindfulness coach is to spend Christmas walking from London to Cardiff to raise funds for a mental health charity.

Bhupinder Sandhu, from Gravesend, Kent, will set off from Parliament Square on 21 December and spend eight days walking the 160 miles (257 km) to the Welsh Parliament.

This will be Mr Sandhu's second long-distance charity walk, having previously walked from London to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.

He said he chose to take on the challenge in the winter to "reflect how big the challenge" of tackling poor mental health is.

He told BBC Radio Kent he was inspired by the latest figures compiled by the charity Mind, for which he hopes to raise £10,000 through the walk.

"One in five children or young adults is suffering from mental health problems, and two-thirds of them are not getting any help. Two million people are on the waiting list for the NHS," he said.

"We have to start our mental health revolution; this is a step in that direction, so we can make people aware; they can start talking about it.

"In the 21st century, we have advanced in every other aspect of life, but when it comes to mental health, there's still a big taboo; we are scared to talk and be open about it.

"We are suffering inside."

Mr Sandhu aims to walk about seven hours a day and will be joined by friends along the way. He has trained using 5kg ankle weights to simulate the effect of rain soaking his clothes.

The mindfulness coach said he does not have any distractions, such as music, when he walks.

"When I'm walking, I'm not thinking about anything," he said. "I'm just focussing on the step I'm taking; observe what's around me, even if it's wind or rain."

He is planning to walk from London to Paris in 2025.

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