Darren: From Lands End to Liverpool

*From the landing to Lands End*

My name is Darren Bailey, I’m walking Land’s End to Liverpool. I estimate it will take 28 (1st March - 28th March) days to complete. “Why?” you’re asking, “why not?” I say. I’m 37 years old, I’ve suffered with my mental health and addiction problems most of my adult life. My addiction to drink was very damaging, it left me with literally nothing. I lost my house, my job, car, partner, time with my kids, sanity and liberty. It ended in prison and Damien John Kelly (DJK) house is where I reached out to. Something had lead me to the chapel in prison, this is where I met PJ Smith, doing a talk about recovery to inmates. It was at this moment my life changed forever, whether I knew it or not.

I’ve been in recovery now for two and a half years, my last drink was in July of 2019. Since I’ve been at DJK I’ve stuck to their program and it has allowed me to do amazing things. I’ve done a skydive, a marathon, been in a film, rode a bike from Liverpool to Hull, which took three days! Without the help of places like DJK helping people there would be an untold amount more suffering for men in addiction. 

I met Michelle Roache at a mental health boxing group, that she runs through her charity New Beginnings Improving Lives (NBIL). This is where my friendship with her and her organisation started. My mental health has not been the best over the last fifteen years or so. I want to raise people’s awareness of mental health issues. I suffer with ADHD, depression, anxiety, and psychosis, and of course some days are harder than others. A good routine, exercise, and sharing how I feel with people - it’s good to talk - has been key in my recovery. I will likely be taking medication for the rest of my life however, and there is no shame in this, it’s okay. And it is definitely okay to not be okay. 

I would like to raise £15,000! This would be shared between DJK house and NBIL. For the lads at DJK in early recovery it would mean things like football equipment, photography gear, bikes for the lads to exercise on, even a minibus for the lads to get around. For NBIL it would help cover the running cost of the Food Hub Michelle runs where food banks operate each week, running mental health groups, and boxing sessions and circuit training for men and women struggling with their mental health. It will also go a long way towards relieving pressure on people and financial hardship. This all goes towards promoting good mental health and wellbeing, reducing isolation, creating job opportunities, the saving and using of surplus food, and uniting communities. 

I’m passionate about these things and I want to raise as much as possible to help as many people as possible. So please donate and make these things happen! Thank you for taking the time to read this. And one last thing… if you are worried about your drinking or drugging or you feel low or no one cares, even like life isn’t worth living, please, *please, REACH OUT FOR HELP TODAY.* _It might be the first day of the rest of your life._