ON Sunday, March 10, 12 brave young people from Bude undertook a challenge, to ‘leave their worries behind’.

Blend Bude Youth Collective set themselves the task of walking six gruelling miles, carrying a box containing their personal worries that they had previously kept to themselves. Written on slates and weighing in at 12kg, these worries would represent the act of struggling through life while carrying such burdens.

What unfolded on that day was a metaphor for coping with worries, and sharing, caring and communicating with each other to do anything possible to make baring that load easier. With this support, eventually after doubts and struggles, the young people were able to leave those worries behind.

The young people, led by operations manager Jamie Wright, set off in 70mph winds, with sun, rain and hail thrown into the mix. With an expected time of four hours, the team were surprised to wrap up a total of six hours in the temperamental weather conditions.

Jamie said: “It was amazing to see the 12 Blend walkers go from excitement and eagerness, through to doubt and hardship, all the way to determination and true grit! They had the chance to drop out at Sandymouth and get a lift back, but they didn’t. It was an honour to walk with them all.”

Blend have raised over £1,000 so far for Papyrus UK, the suicide prevention charity, but hope funds will continue to come in.

Jamie added: “This issue is a massive concern to our community and should be at the front of every parent’s mind.

“Big thanks to Mole Valley Farmers Holsworthy and Footsure Ltd for donating walking boots to our worry walkers, and to Clive Symm for filming the whole thing. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for a very special treat coming up in the next few weeks.”

Blend are now planning a ‘dance-athon’ from Compass Point to Widemouth Bay, dancing all the way for Cornwall Air Ambulance, which will take place in the summer holidays.