Two inspirational pals and a dog are gearing up to undertake a gruelling walking challenge in a bid to raise awareness over suicide.

Paul Chambers and Gregory Husbands - along with Stanley the dog - are to embark on a 79 miles fundraiser across the Chiltern Hills.

Paul, the co-founder of PoetsIN, an acclaimed creative mental health charity, and Gregory, a former army veteran are calling for others to join them on their hike.

"We have both managed dark times in the past," explains Paul, "and have lost too many friends to suicide.

"Now we both actively speak openly about our battles with depression and anxiety.

"We'll be broadcasting from the walk, as well as actively sharing (and doing) our mental health tools each day - plus chatting lots..

"We'd love people to join in, physically or virtually and invite you to make your own plans for food, toilets, stops and such."

The gutsy pair explain the reason they chose the 79 miles specifically. "The number is the amount of men in England who took their lives each week towards the end of 2022, with women taking it up to around 100 a week," says Paul.

The resolute duo aim to raise awareness, and funds, around this too-high number of suicides involving men - and women - and to boost the work PoetsIN do for those that feel they have nowhere to turn. Help for Heroes, who help veterans, will be involved as well both on donations and exposure.

When will the walk take place

The walk is set to take place during Suicide Awareness Week. So, from Monday, September 11 through until Friday, September 15 Paul and Gregory - and hopefully as many others as possible - will be taking part in a 79 mile walk across the Chiltern Hills - with the more the merrier.

"We'd love anyone who cares to join us to come along - for as little as much as they can do - it's up to you," says Paul.

The Route

Paul and Gregory have decided to do the Deacon Hill Loop, as it's a convenient 80 miles long, and will begin and end at the magical Pegsden Hills.

The pair will be stopping - and in some cases staying, around these areas:

Monday night Harpendon

Tuesday night Bovingdon

Wednesday night Buckland Common

Thursday night Upper Sundon

As Paul says movingly: "We all need to talk so much more about how we feel to normalise openess and reduce the numbers of suicides. People can join us for a day, half a day, a mile or whatever; but the more people joining in and talking about it the better.

"Join us, talk to us, write about us, walk an hour, a day or the whole five days with us. Use the hashtag #The79 with any post."

If you would like to donate and/or learn more about this fundraiser and the valiant pair behind it click here for their fundraising page.

For more about the creative men tap health charity PoetsIN click here

See Nub News for more on this story over the coming weeks and months as well as features on the excellent work PoetsIN carry out.