Keen walkers across Bradford and Craven are invited to join Better Lives, the official charity of Braford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, for a walk along the canal between Skipton and Saltaire on Sunday 10 October to mark World Mental Health Day.

The internationally recognised day aims to raise awareness of mental health and encourage conversations around the importance of mental wellbeing. The walk is an opportunity for local communities to get behind this cause, meet new people and raise money for the NHS Trust which provides community and mental health services across the district.

The event will start at 9.30am at Morrisons in Skipton and will finish at the Half Moon Café in Roberts Park, Saltaire, with a cuppa and a slice of cake, generously donated by the C

café. Volunteers will be there to help walkers along the way, with a free drink and snack provided for each person at the start of the event thanks to the kind support of Clare Reed, the Skipton Morrisons Community Champion.

The 16-mile route along the canal is easy to follow and will take walkers past Captain Sir Tom Moore’s final resting place in Riddlesden, with maps and a half-way (approximate) marshal point. It costs £5 per person to register, and the charity is encouraging participants to get sponsors for their walk to raise even more money for their local NHS. All participants must register before the day to participate.

Catherine Jowitt, charity and volunteer lead at the Care Trust, said: “World Mental Health Day is a really important event for us to mark because, as a provider of mental health services, we know the importance of taking care of people’s mental wellbeing.

“The money we raise through this event will help us go the extra mile in supporting local communities, but it is also an opportunity for us to come together and benefit from the boost that walking and getting out in nature can give. Studies have shown that just 30 minutes of vigorous walking a day can give major mental health benefits.

“We look forward to meeting anyone who would like to take part.”

To register and get full details for the day, email betterlivescharity@bdct.nhs.uk or visit https://www.bdct.nhs.uk/better-lives-charity/ and click on Get walking for World Mental Health Day for more information.