FORMER Mayor of Warrington Geoff Settle celebrated with new friends and supporters, who have personal experience of bipolar disorder, as they stood at the Hadrian’s Way signpost that marked the end of a charity walk of 84 miles from Bowness-on-Solway to Wallsend.
The group’s aim was to increase awareness of bipolar disorder and to raise money needed to sustain local support services for people with bipolar.
Geoff is the lead facilitator for the Warrington Bipolar UK support group that was set up using the charity’s share of funds raised during his Mayoral year, 2015-16.
He said: “I only joined the group on Newcastle’s Quayside at the Millennium Bridge. I have only just been diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the hips so I can’t walk too far but I was determined to take part even if it was just five miles.
“We are a peer support group and meet on the first Tuesday of the month in a room at the Gateway, opposite the Town Hall gates. It is free to attend, confidential and no booking is required. For further details about our service go to bipolaruk.org
“We support 130 people a year with an average monthly attendance of 12 and a high of 18. I’ve noticed that new members arrive with the idea that we are experts hoping for an instant solution. I always break it to them gently that there is no solution – only ways to live with the condition. I stress that we are the experts of living with bipolar, so ask away.”
Warrington has a population of just over 210,000. The bipolar population is approximately 4,194, while the bipolar population at risk is 231(5.5%).
Support for the bipolar challenge can be given at https://www.givepenny.com/bipolar-uk-hadrian-way-walk
It is estimated that this year, 800 people with bipolar will complete suicide. With treatment and support these lives can be saved.
Ex-Mayor Geoff Settle (third from left) with charity walkers
Ex-Mayor joins in Hadrian’s Way charity walk
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Thanks David as always for your support. In addition thanks to the River Foundation for putting on the muster run from the Village Hotel and the likes of Kim who followed me around the course at the back encouraging me all the way and not to forget Louise Blizzard in the Widnes parkrun 5 km who cheered me on as she lapped me and then again at the bandstand. Somehow I can run a bit but walking is a big pain in the backside – however the support gave me a confidence boost for the charity walk.
Simon Kitchen BiploarUK CEO, whose idea the walk was, told me earlier this week that the walk has already raised £3,500 and hopefully continuing to increase towards his aim of £8,000 that will be used to help local support groups and services. Simon’s wife Naomi also took part in stretches and she is expecting to give birth in October.