Calling all men for Talk the Walk with Princess Alice Hospice

Research has shown that men often find it harder to talk about life and death, share emotions and seek help when they need it. We hope the Hospice’s new event, Talk the Walk, will help raise awareness of its bereavement services and vital funds to reach more people.

The event is a 10-mile walk that begins and finishes at Esher Rugby Club via Cobham Rugby ground, where walkers can stop for refreshments before continuing through Whiteley Village and back to Esher, in time for kick-off.

After listening to our supporters, we have introduced a shorter wheelchair accessible four-mile route setting off from Esher Rugby Club to the Hospice in West End Lane and back to the rugby club. Registration for both walks is £30 per person (£25 for 11-17 year-olds, and a discount of £5 per person for groups of four or more), which includes a rugby match day ticket to watch Esher vs Bury St Edmunds; a burger, a pint (or soft drink) and a Talk the Walk t-shirt.

Bereavement Lead at the Hospice, Sarah Friggieri, said: “Men’s grief is no less intense than women’s grief. All people go through the same process regardless of gender, but for some it is sometimes unseen, not spoken about or misinterpreted – and this is sadly more likely for men. As much as society has changed in a lot of ways, the unhelpful notion of strength in silence can at times prevail for men, and that can result in them not always receiving the care and compassion they need and deserve.”

Community Partnerships and Events Lead, Claire Woodward added, “We offer our bereavement services to anyone who has lost a loved one under our care – men, women, young people and children. On this occasion, we created Talk the Walk to encourage men to come together, shoulder to shoulder and challenge themselves while having fun, making new friends and raising money for the Hospice. Please register for the event today – anyone aged 11 and over can take part to support the males in their life, and we hope they do. It’s sure to be a wonderful day with plenty of walking to work up an appetite!”

Sean Phelan from Fill Your Boots says “Grief will touch everyone, it’s circle of life stuff, but it really will effect everyone. And dealing with it is extremely tough.

It took me about a year of my partner Freya, suggesting that I should speak to someone before I actually did. It’s not really the “man thing” to do. I had bottled up enough over that year that at some point the bubble was going to burst. And I’m so glad that I did. I see Claire, my Councilor every other Thursday and we just chat through things going on in life. And you have no idea how much it has helped. I sleep with a clear head, when before it was having a million thoughts rattling around. It wasn’t healthy.

You don’t get over grief, you just learn to cope with it.”

It cost the Hospice £10.1 million last year to provide its free care and support, and that figure is likely to increase year on year, with just a small proportion coming from NHS grants and service funding.

To find out more about the event and register, visit www.pah.org.uk/talkthewalk.