Dorothy House is organising its annual Men’s Walk to Support event which provides a space for people to talk about their experiences of grief and bereavement while staying active.

Men from all across the area are signing up to get involved in the event which will raise vital funds for end of life care.

The charity has an hospice outreach centre in Peasedown St John and charity shops in Midsomer Norton, Radstock, and Peasedown, which help to support its care services.

Dorothy House will host the Men’s Walk to Support event on Saturday, March 8. This eight-mile walk offers the opportunity for males over the age of eight to come together, share their experiences, and raise funds to support the charity.

The walk starts at 11am and 12noon from Dorothy House, Winsley. Participants will follow a route along the canal which finishes at Bath Pavilion.

During the launch of the 2024 Men’s Walk to Support event, Dorothy House Hospice hosted a ‘locker room chat’ featuring Bath Rugby player and Dorothy House ambassador Tom Dunn, ambassador Alan Phillips and his son Seb (a new young person’s ambassador), player Kieran Verden, and Chris Eames, a recipient of Dorothy House’s care.

The conversation, facilitated by Dorothy House family support lead, Dominic Denny, covers topics such as expectations upon men who are grieving, ways of coping with grief and how to support men who are bereaved.

A full-length film has gone live on the Dorothy House Hospice Care website and is designed to open up conversations about the male experience of grief and bereavement.

Chris Eames, a fundraiser who’s aunt died at Dorothy House ten years ago, said: “I just I spent the first couple of weeks just trying to be as normal as I possibly could, but then the funeral happened and everyone came and paid their respects and it was like they all moved on with their lives. And I was like still hating the world for what had happened.”

Entry for the event costs £28 and all participants will receive a free event T-shirt, along with a complimentary pint and meal at the finishing line.

To support the hospice, participants are encouraged to raise sponsorship will can go towards helping Dorothy House continue to provide free end-of-life care.

The 2024 event raised £105,000, with hopes of exceeding this total in 2025.