A scaffolder plans to walk 1200 miles in 60 days across the length of Britain, fundraising for Andy’s Man Club, a male suicide prevention charity. On May 1st, he will begin at Lands End and plans to finish at John O’Groats.
Jordan Darby, 39, struggled with his mental health for years and tried to take his own life.
The father-of-four claims walking helped him turn his life around. He now shares his daily walks on social media and has started his own walking group.
Last year he completed a 500-mile-walk while fundraising for MIND. He quadrupled his original fundraising target, raising £6050 on JustGiving for the mental health charity.
Mr Darby said: “Last time was my first big walk and I wasn’t sure what to expect. The knowledge from those bad days on my last walk means I know what to expect.
It’s the same as battling with your mental health. One day you’re having the best day of your life, and the next day you don’t want to be here.”
In 2021, he was jailed for 32 months for attempted arson with intent to endanger life.
On his Facebook page, he said: “Prison forced me to stop, breathe, and face myself properly for the first time since I was a kid. I used that time to clear my head, really think about where my life was going, and decide I’d had enough of the same old cycle. For the first time ever, I actually got myself on the right track.
“I’ve now been out for a couple years, stayed out of trouble, and even managed to walk away when trouble has come my way. That alone shows me how far I’ve come.
“Looking back, I wish I’d made that change sooner—but the truth is, it’s never too late. No matter who you are or what you’ve done, you can choose to turn it around.”
Mr Darby originally planned to complete the walk with a friend, who suggested the idea. Despite no response from this friend, he now plans to complete the walk by himself.
On his Facebook, he shared that: “Walking has helped me reset, refocus and find perspective. If this challenge encourages even one person to speak up, reach out, or take a step outside to clear their head, then every mile will be worth it.”
Aimee Watson, ANDYSMANCLUB Events Coordinator, said: “The group was founded after the suicide of Andy Roberts. He gave no indication that he was suicidal. As a result, his brother-in-law, Luke Ambler, and mother, Elaine Roberts, founded ANDYSMANCLUB in the hope that men who struggled to open up had a safe space to do so.
“We run peer-to-peer support groups for men aged 18+ going through storms in their lives. The groups currently operate in 350+ locations nationwide with over 6500 attendees on average each week. There are plans in place to expand to over 500 by the end of 2026.”
Mr Darby said: “I finally found something that has helped me and kept me on the straight and narrow.
“Not only that, I’ve seen some of the most beautiful places that people don’t know exist. It’s just about getting out there, enjoying life and meeting new people.”
A spokesperson for ANDYSMANCLUB said: “Fundraisers like Jordan do more than just raise money, they are powerful tools for raising awareness, which is the number one priority for ANDYSMANCLUB.
“They have the potential to reach countless people, sparking conversations and encouraging individuals to share the message with their friends and family that #ITSOKAYTOTALK.”
If you would like to donate, visit his JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/jordan-darby-1757001897109?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL. Updates from his journey will also be shared on his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jordan.darby.501
