'North East Rotary walks for bipolar'

North East Rotary clubs and Bipolar UK are joining forces to raise awareness, vital funds and support for people affected by bipolar across the region.     

Over one million people in the UK live with bipolar and a further five million are impacted through family and friends. Without timely diagnosis and management, bipolar is a devastating condition where people take impulsive risks, massively overspend, and experience paranoid delusions which can result in the loss of jobs, homes, and lives. It is estimated one in five people with bipolar will eventually take their own life. Appropriate treatment and support significantly lower this risk.       

It takes an average of 9.5 years to get a diagnosis and 56% of people with bipolar don’t have a diagnosis. This delay to diagnosis is caused by lack of awareness of symptoms amongst the public, lack of expertise amongst clinicians and a lack of support throughout the diagnosis journey.     

To mark World Bipolar Day, which is on 30th March, the Rotary Bipolar eClub, chaired by Bipolar UK’s CEO, Simon Kitchen will be taking on an epic walking challenge. Simon will be joined by Jeremy a Rotary Bipolar eClub member and Bipolar UK trustee and Jeremy’s wife, Daisy. They will be walking just under 200Km, the equivalent of 9.5 half marathons across 9.5 days to symbolise the delay to bipolar diagnosis.   

The trio will set off from Durham on Wednesday 20th March, on St. Cuthbert’s Day and arrive at the finish line in Holy Island on Saturday 30th March, World Bipolar Day. Saint Cuthbert is often called the patron saint of the North of England, where he notably had a long journey to his final resting place along this route. Rotary clubs across the region are invited to take part in the walk and to help raise awareness in their area.     

This event will highlight bipolar awareness as a priority in the North East, whilst signposting to and raising funds for new Bipolar UK peer support groups in the area. The event also coincides with a 6-month poster awareness campaign in 60 GP surgeries across the North East.

We invite anyone who would like to support this campaign to consider donating £9.50, this would allow someone to access a combination of Bipolar UK’s lifesaving services for one month.   

To learn more please contact:  Peter McLoughlin, Senior Partnerships Officer, Bipolar UK  Phone: 020 4530 5761 (Direct)  Email: pmcloughlin@bipolaruk.org