Walk on, walk on... Conor to take part 127-mile hike for mental health

Walk on, walk on... Conor to take part 127-mile hike for mental health

14 April 2021

A BALLYKINLAR man will walk the length of the Liverpool and Leeds Canal to raise money for a mental health charity.

Conor Burke (24) will make the 127-mile trip over the space of five days this summer.

The trip is set to start from Liverpool’s famous Stanley Dock on Thursday, July 15, and will finish in Leeds city centre.

Conor, who now lives in Liverpool, said: “I live close to the canal on the Liverpool end of the canal, so now and again I would walk or cycle along a little bit of it. I had a look at how long it actually is and wondered if people had walked its full length before.

“Once I saw the distance I almost threw my phone down. But I had a second thought that it might actually be quite interesting to walk it and make a weekend out of it, taking in a bit of the scenery along the way. I thought I may as well raise some money while I’m at it.”

Money raised from the walk will go towards Mindwise NI, a mental health charity that provides over 30 services across Northern Ireland including financial and housing support and also lends an ear to those who just need a chat.

“Mental health has really been a subject on everyone’s lips, especially during the last year and it’s something that I feel quite strongly about,” Conor explained. 

“It’s always good to know that no matter what issue you have, there’s always someone there to put an arm around you. 

“When I did my research on Mindwise, I saw the sense of community and spirit they bring with their services so I chose them. I understand there are many people in tough situations coming out of the pandemic, so I will be very grateful for any and all donations received. I promise it will be put to good use at Mindwise,” he added.

Conor plans to walk approximately 25 miles a day in order to reach his target. 

“I am doing this alone which probably doesn’t sound well considering I’m trying to convince people that they aren’t on their own,” he said.

“I am more of a solo player when it comes to exercise outside of team sports so I just figured I’d prefer to keep this one to myself, although a few people have offered to join me for small parts along the way, which I’ll greatly welcome.”

Donations to Conor’s walk can be submitted to the link on his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/burkieee7.