Former York City striker Jon Parkin joins walking challenge for mental health
Jon is joining other former players on a coast-to-coast challenge to raise money for mental health and NHS charities.
Known as 'The Beast' during his playing days, former York City striker Jon Parkin is teaming up with ex-footballers to raise money for NHS and mental health charities.
Jon finished his career at Bootham Crescent in 2019 after previous spells at the club, with York one of his first main experiences of first team football.
He's joining former footballers including Steve Howey, Chris Kirkland, Mark Crossley and Dean Windass as they set off walking today (Wednesday 14th July) from Carlisle to Newcastle.
The Walking And Talking Charity Hikes (WATCH) project is hoping to raise £50,000 - and to also spark up more conversations about mental health and wellbeing.
Jon told Greatest Hits Radio York: "We were supposed to be doing Kilimanjaro this year, but with Covid we thought it best to push it back a year.
"Basically myself, Mark Crossley and a lad called Darrell Yardley had a brainwave of doing Kilimanjaro and put it out to the lads who we used to play with.
"We formed #WalkingsBrilliant and it went from there. Talking about mental health is even more important during this pandemic.
"It's been half forgotten about that this (mental health) is a massive problem and the fact that Covid's made things worse for a lot of people.
"A lot of people doing the walk have had troubles over the past, and it's our way of giving something back. We want to raise as much money as we can. We're looking forward to the challenge (some more than others!).
"Everybody knows what a massive thing mental health is, not just since the pandemic but before it".
Jon reckons the challenge will be just as difficult as pre-season training used to be: "I've done minimal training so I'm going to be calling on my old pre-season reserves I think; when you think 'I can't physically do anymore' but you manage to get through it.
"I don't think I'll be known as 'The Beast' on the walk - I think it'll just be 'Parky'! It should be good, and we're just wanting to raise awareness and plenty of money.
"I don't know if refreshing is the word, but it's good to know that even footballers have had struggles. Sometimes people think that's everything's hunky dory if you're in the football world, so it's refreshing for people to realise that anyone can struggle with mental health.
"We just want people to get out there talking. The walking is brilliant and exercise is great for your mental health. Not a lot of people talk about their experiences and how they're feeling, so we need to get over that hurdle".
More details on the campaign can be found here: @walkingsbrill, Instagram @walkingsbrilliant and www.walkingsbrilliant.com