***Warning: this article mentions substance abuse and suicide.***
A man who says he was left feeling suicidal after a friend ripped him off £20,000 completely turned his life around embarking on a 4,000-mile-long walk across the UK and Ireland.
Clive Brown, 52, was working as an electrician when his life began to spiral out of control, following the breakdown of a relationship.
His problems became worse when his so-called pal ‘f***ed him over’ leaving him £20,000 out of pocket in a business deal that went wrong.
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Struggling to cope, Clive turned to drink and drugs, worsening his mental health problems.
Speaking to the Daily Star, he explained: "I was going to commit suicide, basically.
"One of the things that pushed me towards the walk was that a mate ripped me off for a lot of money, about £20,000. I basically wanted to kill him.
"There was some nastiness inside of me that wouldn’t go away and I didn’t like that, and I’m not like that as a person.
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"But obviously my relationship had broken down as well so I was bitter and I was drinking and abusing substances too, so I wasn’t very clear-headed.
"I was a bit worried of what I was going to do. I knew it was going to be disastrous for me."
But things began to change for Clive on 6 May 2022, when he decided to set off on a walk from a beach in St Austell, Cornwall - and he hasn’t stopped since.
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In total, he’s travelled around 4,000 miles across England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Clive told the publication that his journey is a way to encourage people to speak up and he often stops off to chat to people while out on his walks - he’s also raising money for mental health charity Mind.
Dad Clive is now back in the UK after spending some time walking around the Republic of Ireland, and has picked up some work at a slate mine in Cumbria to help raise some cash before setting off again in around six weeks.
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"My boots are falling apart, my tent broke, so it was a timely intermission. I need to get some money to get back on the road," he said.
"It is a little bit weird to be still. I’m a little bit stir-crazy because obviously I’m working and in the same place all the time. But the people here are great."
You can keep up with his adventures on Instagram here or donate to his fundraiser here.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.
Topics: Mental Health, UK News, Drugs, Money, Charity, Travel
Claire Reid