Costa Coffee Barista Walks 6,500 miles for Mind Jersey

Sam Wood, a member of our staff, travelled 6,500 miles from St Malo to Beijing to raise money for Mind Jersey. This aimed to raise awareness of mental health in Jersey, as there were 15 confirmed suicides in 2016, compared to an average of 7.5 deaths per 100,000 persons in England in 2016, indicating Jersey was twice the national average.

Sam understands how difficult it is for young men to seek help and admit when they do, as a result of his own issues in the past. Young men account for a sizable proportion of suicide statistics in the United Kingdom and Jersey, and he hopes that this campaign will encourage struggling young men to step outside their comfort zones and  reduce the stigma associated with mental health.

The walk will cover around 6,500 miles and will take between 18 and 20 months, taking him through all of Europe and all of Asia. Through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Mongolia, as well as along sections of the Great Wall of China, the journey concludes in Beijing.

Sandpiper were proud to support his fantastic cause where Sam was able to raise an amazing £1,760.