31Miles31Lives

Bfriends charity launches its first fundraising event 31Miles31Lives that will support young people and adults that are transitioning into independent living on the 4th September 2022 where four friends of the charity and trust Ryan Faulkner, George Stobbs, Alex Black, Nathan Rees, will be walking 31 miles with 31kg each along the canal path from Worcester to Birmingham.

Ryan Faulkner, Managing Director, RCF Facilities Management Limited is leading the challenge in partnership with Bfriends Friends of Birmingham Childrens Trust Charity. Ryan is being joined by four ex-military friends who are equally passionate about the cause.

Ryan said “with six years in the British Army I left the forces and moved into security work and predominantly close protection work. After many hard times with mental health and life struggles, I've made it a conscious effort to give back and help others where I can.

This challenge initially started as an individual thing to prove to myself that you can always push through hard challenges.

After meeting with Natalie Loon at Bfriends Charity and seeing the great work she does it became apparent that doing the 31 miles with 31kgs could help change some people’s lives and the challenge 31 miles for 31 lives has become the goal. We will be doing it on September 4th from Worcester to Birmingham along the canal system”

George Stobbs is also joining the challenge and said ”with over 12 years’ service in the British Army, training all over the world and going through my own fitness journey/transformation, I made it my mission to help as many people as I can become the best versions of themselves, both physically and mentally. There is more to training than just wanting to look good or lose some weight.

Mental (ill) Health is slowly becoming more talked about but is still a quiet phrase in the fitness world, we want to help change this!

This challenge is going to be more mental than physical. That's why it's an amazing chance to show how your mindset can push the body. Welcoming charity members to training sessions to show how a bit of exercise can have a positive impact on mental health.

Natalie Loon Operations and Fundraising Manager, said,” the best part of my job is meeting inspirational people that join us in making a difference in the lives of the young people and adults we work with. When I met Ryan, it was clear that he wanted to use his birthday and personal life experiences to support others, and then a passional like-minded team formed collectively.

The team known now as Bfriends31 will be walking to raise funds to support young people and adults known to Birmingham Childrens Trust that are going through transitions into independent living, this is the start of a new programme in the first six months, pledge to support 31 lives”.