A group of friends have walked the whole Sandstone Trail in a single day to raise money for the mental health charity, Mind.

On Saturday (26 June), after months of training, Ian Savage and 17 of his friends set off from Whitchurch on their mammoth walk, on a mission to boost awareness of men's mental health issues while chatting about their own experiences during the coronavirus pandemic.

They were met with cheers and applause when they finally strode back through Frodsham that evening, the full 34 miles under their belt.

"Mind is an amazing charity who help men with these difficulties," Ian told Frodsham Nub News. "With the highest suicide rate for men being at our age we felt we needed to speak out.

"What's tough is admitting you need help and being open to talk.

"So as a group we wanted to promote this charity and highlight that you're not alone in these weird times.

"Yes the donations have been amazing and it all goes to the charity, but our main objective was to unite as a group and support each other.

"We got an amazing welcome back in Frodsham," Ian added. "We certainly didn't expect that.

"The day had it highs and lows for us all mentally, but it goes to show that those who thought they couldn't do it now have the mental strength and belief to achieve the unachievable.

"No one is alone and we can pull together when we are low, struggling when times are tough. That's exactly what I wanted from this walk. And we did it!

"It's been a journey we won't forget."

Ian and his "Walk, Talk & Support" friends have already raised £5,444 - including a donation of £500 from Ian's colleagues at CF Fertilisers - for Mind through their Sandstone Trail challenge, but if you would also like to contribute, you can visit their JustGiving page.

You can also download the latest single from Frodsham musician, Mark Bleasdale, which he wrote in a bid to work through and express his own emotions, while showing others that they are not alone.

A huge well done to Ian Savage, Ady Roberts, Greig Wilding, Greg Dudley, Alex Ratcliffe, Chris Kelly, Bobby Cochrane, Daniel Russell, Mark Bleasdale, Jamie Clare, Paul Hough, Rob Pye, Keith Scott, Eddy Mount, Ross McNamara, Andy Russell, Aaron Phillipson and Tony Lowe!