Father takes on John O'Groats to Leighton Buzzard journey for suicide prevention charity

Neil Mills, 48, will be running and walking 620 miles all the way from John O'Groats back to Leighton-Linslade in a bid to raise £40,000 to support the suicide prevention charity.

Over two weeks, the father of five will be aiming to have 950 conversations with strangers, and seeking to find accommodation for free each night.

Neil said: "I want to show that you are never alone, and that there's always someone to help. I want this to be an advert for human kindness and potential.

"I'll be relying on the kindness of the communities that I visit along the way.”

The OLLIE Foundation helps to prevent suicide, with a particular focus on young people – and provides people with the skills to recognise distress and support people in need because 'One Life Lost Is Enough'.

The charity was founded ten years ago by three bereaved parents, with Neil inspired to help their cause after a chance meeting in the gym.

He said: "I was in Anytime Fitness and the man in front of me was wearing a T-shirt which said 'The World's a Better Place With You in it'. I got talking to him about the charity, which he set up after his son took his own life.

"I was blown away by his story. As a parent of five, I genuinely cannot imagine the pain of losing a child to suicide."

Neil will begin his journey on September 23 and finish on October 7, with nothing but a tent if he can't find anywhere to sleep.

His friend Sacha Fuller will be his companion driver – on hand to ensure Neil's safety during the journey.

"His constant support through all my challenges has been endless," added Neil.

The determined director of SD Carpentry is no stranger to endurance – as back in April he visited every Young Lives vs Cancer Home from Home across the country, travelling from London to Nottingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, Manchester, Bristol, Southampton, and back to London.

Neil added: "On day two, my foot was in a bad way from going up and down kerbs, but I kept going, and looking back, that's the reward.

"Sacha was amazed by how much people wanted to help [when they saw me on my travels]."

Neil raised an amazing £26,145 for the charity, which helps young people with cancer, including providing 'Home from Homes' so families can stay close to hospitals whilst children are receiving treatment.

Neil has been involved with the charity for some years, including providing free carpentry services, and wanted to give back.

He said: "For me, the challenge was personal. Living with ADHD, endurance sport helps me manage mental overload and channel my energy positively. Now, I’m using that drive to help families facing one of the hardest battles imaginable."

Along the way, he met a young man named Jack Thompson, 18, who was one of the brave young people whom the charity had helped.

As a young boy, Jack had beaten cancer – which had left him blind – and dedicated his time to raising money for Young Lives vs Cancer, so far raising around £200,000.

Inspired by his story, on August 1, Neil will travel up to see Jack in Newcastle and complete a skydive with Jack and his nan Elaine, who will be taking on the challenge for her 70th birthday.

"I'm a man of my word!" said Neil. "I'm terrified of heights, but I won't think about it until the day."

Click here to support his challenge for The OLLIE Foundation and click here to support Jack's skydive for Young Lives vs Cancer.

For mental health support, please visit the Samaritans website or call their helpline on 116 123 for free.