Mental health workers in North Cumbria are set to walk Hadrian’s Wall

A group of NHS workers are planning to take a walk on Hadrian’s Wall to raise money for a mental health football team.

Staff from the Carleton Clinic in Carlisle and West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven will aim to run 85 miles in support of the group run by the Carlisle United Community Sports Trust.

While the pharmacy team cannot leave the site to participate in the walk in person, they are setting up a treadmill in their office to provide them with virtual support.

Hannah Lund, clinical manager at Carleton Clinic, said: “When people are feeling unwell or on the road to recovery, it is so important for them to attend meaningful, welcoming activities like this football group.”

She said: ‘Physical activity has such a huge benefit for your overall wellbeing – it helps keep not only your body healthy, but your mind too.

“And the social side also contributes to people’s well-being. They can come along and meet other people who can understand what they’re going through, and build that network in their local community.”

Staff from six departments across the two hospitals and the teams that support them – including estates staff, receptionists and senior managers – will walk parts of Hadrian’s Wall.

They leave on May 15 and hope to cover the entire length in three days.

Aaron Vaughn, hospital director at the Carleton Clinic, said many staff wanted to participate.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for a whole range of employees to come together and do something to boost their own wellbeing and support the football group,” he said.

The football group is supported by the SHINE fund – part of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW).

All money raised from this walk will go to the football group as a donation from SHINE, in recognition of the help it provides to people the trust supports.