Join the Mindstep Foundation and Boys in Mind, two charities working - and walking - in step to tackle young men’s mental health and prevent suicide.

The Mindstep Foundation is based in Newport, South Wales. It was set up by the Davies family following the loss of their son, Max, who took his own life in 2018 aged 22.

He was a talented rugby player at Monmouth RFC and a former pupil at Monmouth School for Boys. Max attended The Grange from 2003 – 2006, Monmouth School 2006-2014 and Canterbury Christchurch University 2015 – 2018. He had been struggling for a year with clinical depression and despite regular counselling, medication and total family support, he could not be saved.

His dad, Lloyd was sponsor of the town’s rugby club, and was Managing Director of Newport legal practice Convey Law and Operations Director of the Conveyancing Association,

Lloyd and his wife Tracey from Monmouth set up the Foundation to fund mental health research, awareness and support.

He explained that his son had been struggling for a year with clinical depression before his death and despite regular counselling, medication and total family support, he could not be saved.

Following Max’s death, he said: “In the wake of our devastating loss, we started to look at the statistics for the sheer number of men who take their own lives every week – over 80 men in England and Wales which is equivalent to over 11 every day and over 4000 a year, and we were driven to try and make a difference.”

Max Davies was a third-year student at Canterbury Christ Church University, when he was found dead by his dad while on a trip to Tuscany for his mother’s 50th birthday.

In 2021, Lloyd and eight supporters set out on an intrepid summer challenge along Britain’s longest ancient monument – Offa’s Dyke - to raise £15,000 for the Mindstep Foundation. It raised £23,755 of a £25,000 goal.

The funds raised were donated by the Foundation to a wellbeing centre at St Alban’s RC School in Pontypool, where Max volunteered in the summer before he died, and provide the school with a wellbeing gym to complement the wellbeing intervention centre, The Sanctuary.

Boys in Mind is a small team of mental health experts and film makers based in Bath. Their work is guided by the 3 P’s: Preventing suicide; Promoting positive mental health and positive self-image to boys and men and Partnering with young people in schools, universities and other youth settings.

On 9 September 2023, the two charities will be hiking the Horseshoe Ridge Walk to raise funds. Starting at 9am from the Taf Fechan Forest Carpark Kings Road Llandovery CF48 2UT, the hike is 10 miles and takes about 5-6 hours, encompassing some of the most spectacular views in the National Park. They will return to the car park around 4pm with celebratory drinks nearby.

The trek comprises of a circuit leading from the Taf Fechan Forest up to Corn Du (873m), Pen y Fan (886m), Cribyn (795m) and Fan y Big (719m). Sweeping panoramic views, combined with Bronze Age burial cairns, make this an unforgettable day!

The trek is free to join, with a £175 suggested minimum sponsorship.

You can fundraise via the InvestMy Community campaign page: https://app.investmycommunity.com/trekfortomorrow or you can also fundraise via the Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/campaign/trek-for-tomorrow-2023.

All money raised will be split between the two charities.