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It’s often said that a walk along the Cornish coast can help lift your spirits but, thanks to the Samaritans, those same paths are about to help save lives too, writes Tom Howe.
The charity’s National Walk is their biggest annual fundraiser and, for 2025, is returning to Cornwall. Taking place for the 47th time, the event will see close to 100 walkers team up to cover the county’s coastline, each completing stints of between five and 15 miles.
Participants can register for different scenic sections, including The Miners Route (between Newquay and Porthcurno), The Pilgrim and Pilchard’s Route (between Porthcurno and Falmouth) and The Maritime Route (between Falmouth and the river Tamar).
It’s one thing being able to explore and enjoy the beautiful scenery we are blessed with here in Cornwall but, more vitally, it’s about raising vital funds to help ensure their free and confidential emotional support can continue.
As a self-funded service with no government grants, every step taken helps Samaritans continue their life-saving work, with the aim of reducing the number of lives lost to suicide.
“The National Walk is something that Samaritans do every year,” Pat Dunne, a listener at Cornwall Samaritans, told CHAOS Radio. “It’s the second time it’s happened in Cornwall in the last few years. Samaritans come together from all around the UK to do the walk but when it’s in a particular region like Cornwall, it’s really our local event and our big fundraising event for the year.
“It does sound a bit mad walking [over 250 miles] in one day but we’re not asking one person to do that. We’re hoping to have something like 80 or 90 people walking [and] we’re actually walking in teams, who will be asked to walk somewhere between five and 15 miles across the Cornish coast.
“People can register to do a particular area and then we’ll allocate them a specific walk nearer the time. We’re going to have a GPS app that they’ll have with them, both from a safety point of view and so that we can actually monitor them during the walk. We can then see the walk being completed so that’ll be quite exciting.
“We’re encouraging people to try and walk in teams of three. If you’ve got some friends who want to walk together, then let us know when you register and we’ll put you together in a team.”
The Truro branch of Samaritans has been supporting people in Cornwall and beyond since the 1970s. Based on Treyew Road, the recently refurbished location is home to a modern listening centre and training facility.
With over 100 dedicated volunteers, the team works tirelessly to offer mental health support, raise awareness, and bring down an alarming rate of people taking their own lives.
In 2023, 5,656 people were registered as having died by suicide, which represented a 6.5 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
As such, Samaritans outreach spans schools, events, and communities, all with one clear message: check in on the people around you.
“We talk to people, we tell them about Samaritans, but we also tell them how they should be communicating with friends and family and colleagues, check in on people and make sure they’re OK,” continued Dunne.
“Our aim as Samaritans is to keep the lines open so we need a certain amount of funds to keep us going every year. We don’t get any government grants or anything in Truro so we’re self-supporting.
“There are over a hundred people volunteering for Samaritans in Cornwall, doing everything from answering calls to supporting the team, running [our stall at] Par Market, running outreach events and things like that.
“They range from people like myself who’ve been doing it for a mere three years to people who’ve been in our organisation for 40 or even 50 years. Our shared aim is to have fewer people die from suicide.”
If you or someone you know is struggling, Samaritans are there 24/7 – just call 116 123 free of charge, or visit samaritans.org to chat online or by email.
If you’d like to support their vital work in Cornwall, you can volunteer, donate, or sign up to take part in things like the Samaritans Walk 2025. Remember, every step and every conversation helps save lives.
To learn more about Samaritans of Cornwall at Truro, visit https://www.samaritans.org/branches/truro/
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