A barman at a popular Salford pub is gearing up to walk the breadth of the country to raise money for the mental health charity Mind.
Jordon Parry will take time away from pouring pints to thirsty customers at The Royal Oak pub in Boothstown to complete the nearly 200-mile coast-to-coast walk next month.
He will begin the gruelling challenge from St Bees, Cumbria, to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire on Monday, 4 May and aims to finish the hike in 12 days.
“I’m walking to prove that your starting point doesn’t define your finish line,” Jordon told Salford Now.
“I’ve taken on this challenge for Manchester Mind because when the cause matters, the obstacles don’t. Every step raises vital funds for local mental health.”
Jordan’s words reflect his experience with suicidal thoughts and said that having the “right people” around him saved his life.
“Mental health struggles don’t just disappear – even 24 years on, it’s something I continue to live with, as many others will understand. That’s why I’ve chosen to support Mind in Manchester, my hometown, where vital work is being done every day,” he wrote on fundraising site JustGiving.
Jordon has already passed his £750 fundraising goal for the coast-to-coast charity challenge and is hopeful that more people will contribute via a fundraising page he’s set up or in person as they stop by the Royal Oak for a drink.
While Jordon is braving the elements as he crosses the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the North York Moors on his way to the finish line, back home, the pub on Simpson Road will host a fundraising evening for Help for Heroes.
Landlady Karen Baird said she is “thrilled” to have received a signed Manchester United item for an auction raising funds for the military veterans’ charity, which will take place on May 9 alongside raffles and football cards.
The charity is close to her heart, as her brother was killed by an IRA bomb while serving in the armed forces in Northern Ireland.
“This event is my way of honouring his memory and supporting the brave men and women who continue to face the challenges of service,” she said.
As families and locals gather at the Royal Oak for the annual toy and food appeal night, they will be cheering Jordon on from afar as he completes his journey from St Bees on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Sea.
More information about Jordon’s fundraiser is available on his JustGiving page, and further details about the Help for Heroes event can be found on the pub’s Facebook page.
