Two men from Harrogate are taking on a 60-kilometre endurance challenge throughout November to raise awareness of men’s mental health and support suicide prevention charity Andy’s Man Club. George Carroll, Head PGA Professional at Harrogate Golf Club, and Andy Wilson, co-founders of Harrogate-based men’s wellbeing initiative Chip ‘n’ Chat, will each walk 60km over the course of the month.
The distance represents the 60 men who die by suicide globally every hour. The challenge aims to encourage more men to open up about their mental health while raising at least £500 for Andy’s Man Club, which provides free peer-to-peer support groups across the country every Monday evening. As part of the campaign, the pair are inviting members of the public to join them for a community walk around Harrogate on Friday, November 13.
To highlight the hidden burden many people carry, they will complete the walk while carrying their golf bags on their backs as a symbol of the invisible weight of mental health struggles. The month-long fundraiser will also include an 18-hole round at Harrogate Golf Club on November 23, with the remaining distance completed individually on foot. The challenge will conclude with the next Chip ‘n’ Chat session at Harrogate Golf Club on November 29, where local men are invited to enjoy an informal golf session and conversation in a relaxed, supportive environment.
No previous golfing experience is required, with coaching
No previous golfing experience is required, with coaching available for beginners. Chip ‘n’ Chat was established to use golf and informal social meet-ups as a way of breaking down the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and creating opportunities for honest conversation. George Carroll said: “As Head Pro here in Harrogate, I see how easily men can bottle things up. “I’m taking on this challenge to show guys that it’s okay not to be okay, that it’s okay to talk, and that people like us are here and ready to listen.
“Everyone’s situation is different, but opening up has made a huge difference in my own life, and that’s why getting behind this cause means so much to me.” Andy Wilson said Andy’s Man Club had played a vital role in his own recovery following a mental health breakdown almost a decade ago. He said: “It’s a group I still attend and facilitate at today. “We’re taking on this 60km challenge to show everyone that whatever you’re going through, you don’t have to carry it alone.
“There are groups out there that can help, and we want to get men talking and point them towards life-changing support.” Anyone wishing to take part in the community walk or support the fundraiser can contact Chip ‘n’ Chat or donate HERE
