After 70 years since Samaritans was founded; a Darlington & District Samaritan, listening volunteer; Chris Hunt, is undertaking an ‘Epic’ bike ride from Lands’ End, to John O’Groats in order to raise vital funds for the Darlington & District Samaritans branch.
The challenge is very much a personal one for Chris, and is something which he has wanted to do for a long time, but he has also undertaken to raise vital funds for his Darlington & District Samaritans branch, where Chris is one of 40 listening volunteers, who answer calls 24/7, 365 days a year, for emotional support, whatever you are going through. Samaritans vision is that fewer people die by suicide. The mission is to make sure that there’s someone there for anyone who needs someone, to give people ways to and the skills to be there for others, and to campaign to make suicide prevention a national and local priority. Together they make change that saves lives.
Chris will not be taking the most direct route either, preferring to stick to quieter roads which, once completed, will be over 1000 gruelling miles, in all manner of weather and landscape. Accompanied by a friend, Chris is aiming to average 75 miles per day, setting off on the 3rd of June with the intention of completing by the 17th.
With only a week to go until he sets off on his ‘Epic’ bike ride, Chris has already blown through his initial £500 fundraising target, which even in these financially challenging times, shows the wide support for Chris and Samaritans. With over £1200 in donations now raised, from family, friends & colleagues, Chris and his fellow branch volunteers, are very grateful for any and all support, Chris has now revised his fundraising target to £2000.
Chris’s fellow volunteers from Darlington & District Samaritans, will be meeting with Chris at the near half way point of his journey, in Penrith on Saturday the 10th of June, to cheer their Hero on for his final half of the journey. On completion of his Epic Bike Ride, Chris will be given a Hero’s welcome on his return to Darlington on the 18th of June.
Chris is covering his own accommodation and food costs for the duration of the journey, to ensure all monies raised goes directly to fund his branch, which has been affected by the rising utility and energy costs.
If you would like to donate to Chris’s ‘Epic Bike Ride’ to raise vital funds for the Darlington & District Samaritans branch you can visit his fundraising page here:
https://samaritanscommunity.enthuse.com/pf/chris-hunt?utm_source=EnthuseSendGrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=website
Samaritans are always looking for listening volunteers, if you feel that this would be something that you are interested in, visit the Samaritans website at www.samaritans.org
If you, or someone you know, could benefit from receiving emotional support, you can call Samaritans on 116 123 for free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.