PRESS RELEASE 27/03/11 - THE EPIC WALK CONTINUES
Sunday, March 27, 2011 Following his exit from the world’s oldest mental institution, The Bethlem Hospital in Beckenham, Charity Walker and depressive Tony Russell has now walked to The Maudsley, Memorial, and Springfield Hospitals covering Denmark Hill, South East London and Tooting, and on Friday 25th March Tony attended at an event hosted by Surrey and Borders NHS Foundation Trust.
On Monday, Tony will walk to the Palace of Westminster where Bob Stewart M.P., former British Commander of United Nations forces in Bosnia, is providing facilities for Tony to meet other M.P.’s, having already lobbied Sadiq Khan M.P.
Tony will then attend events at University College Hospital in Euston Road, and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust before finally leaving London to continue the long trek north.
Tony is attempting to raise funds for mental health and Combat Stress, whilst also tackling the stigma attached to mental illness, reflected in the facts that whilst it affects 1 in 4 people, and costs UK industry £104 billion per year, less than 1% of donations by the public go to a mental health cause.
Tony, who has previously completed a 2,355 mile walk for Cancer says, “Already I have met some wonderful and inspiring people, so it’s definetly worth the effort, although I am dismayed by the lack of media interest which just confirms what many of us already know. Despite its’ devastating effects, Mental Illness remain ‘an illness ignored’”
Tony would like to thank Thurlow Nunn in Norfolk for providing the back up vehicle, Totectors for providing his footwear and contributing towards walk expenses, Milennium Copthorne at Chelsea for their support with accommodation, and Lundbeck and Janssens for their contributions towards walk expenses.
For Further information please contact Angie 07970 178302 or Hayley 07885 900257 breakthrough@mentalhealth.freeserve.co.uk www.breakthroughmhart.com
Tony’s Send Off from The Memorial Hospital - (Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust) Shooters Hill, London.
Tony with Sadiq Khan M.P. at Springfield Hospital, Tooting (South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust)
