A York man is walking 100 miles throughout march to help raise money and awareness for mental health charities Andy’s man club and Calm.
Rob Lowson is taking part in ‘100 miles in March’ challenge, which encourages participants to walk, jog or run 100 miles over the course of the month to support mental health services.
“I’m raising awareness for mental health as it’s something I have always struggled with and I know that loads of people do everyday. If I can help friends or family, or anyone. I just want people to join me, to have a better day” explains Rob.
Watch the full interview here.
It is estimated that 1 in 6 people in England reported a common mental health problem such as anxiety and depression in any given week.
The first walk took part on 1st March 2026 which is Self-Injury Awareness Day which focuses on breaking the stigma around non-suicidal self-harm and encourages conversations about mental health. Support of which can include wearing an orange ribbon and promoting educational sessions in schools and workplaces.
Mental health is one is the deadliest killers. Latest studies show the average suicide rate in the UK is approximately 11.1% to 11.4% per 100,000 people per year, which equates to 5717 people in 2024.
Rob welcomed family, friends and any participants to join him throughout March.
The challenge aims to raise awareness of mental health issues people are affected by and to fund community based support groups across the UK.
Joseph Doyle, Andy’s man club area lead said “At Andy’s Man Club we run free, weekly, no-referral, no-pressure support groups for men aged 18 plus”.
The charity was set up in memory of Andrew Roberts, who sadly took his own life in 2016 aged 23, and now sessions run in many towns and cities nationwide.
Rob said he wanted to take on the challenge to support the charity’s work and help to highlight the importance of men talking openly about mental health.
The walking challenge can be completed at any pace, and it is designed to be accessible to people of all fitness levels. Participants can track their distance across the month raising money through online fundraising.
According to Andy’s Man Club, thousands of men attend their weekly sessions, which are aimed at reducing isolation and encouraging honest conversation in a supportive environment.
Rob is raising money through an online fundraising page, with all proceeds going directly to Andy’s Man club and Calm to help to fund future groups and resources.
Those who would like to support Rob in this challenge can donate online by clicking here.
