TENBURY is the starting point for a walk to make more people aware of the problems that mental health issues can cause.

The chairman of Malvern Hills District Council is planning to walk the length of the district to raise money for mental health groups.

John Raine will complete on average a half-marathon every day, as he covers 130 miles during his Hike for Health and Happiness. His ambition is to cover every ward in the district over ten days.

He will be starting in Lindridge and will be in St Michael’s near Tenbury on the first day where he will take part in an organ recital.

On his journey, John Raine will be taking in some distinctive landmarks, meeting residents and community groups and even stopping to play an organ recital or two.

He will be accompanied by his wife Susan and other councillors will be joining him for part of the route as he passes through their ward.

It’s not the first time John Raine has attempted something on this scale. He has previously completed the 192-mile coast-to-coast walk and completed the 177-mile Offa’s Dyke path along the English/Welsh border.

Not only will he be aiming to raise a significant amount of money for three local mental health organisations – Positive Thoughts, Link Nurseries Therapy and Jigsaw – but he also hopes the event will help challenge the stigma around mental health issues and raise awareness.

In Worcestershire alone, 70,000 adults and 7,000 children are living with mental ill health at any one time.

“I’ve seen the devastating effect mental ill health has had on friends of my mine and how at times it’s been difficult to get the support they need,” he said.

“One in four of us will be affected by mental ill health at any one time and, if we are, then we shouldn’t be ashamed of that. We wouldn’t be afraid to talk about a broken leg or some other aspect of our physical health and the same should be true of mental health.”