Mental health fundraising walk to pass through Warminster

Jonathan Kemp, Viscount Rochdale, is several months into the 10-month journey, which aims to raise £80,000 for four mental health charities.

The Finding Peace of Mind Walk began on January 1, in the Shetland Islands, and will cover 4,200km across Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, and Northern Ireland.

Warminster residents can expect to see the viscount on June 23.

The walk is more than just a fundraiser; it is a mission to open up discussions about mental health.

Mr Kemp has been sharing his personal experiences with bipolar disorder, depression, addiction, and dyslexia in various settings, including workplaces, schools, and community groups.

He is inviting members of the public to join him on the walk, whether for a short distance or a longer stretch.

Alternatively, people can show their support from the sidelines.

For more information, visit www.jonathankemp.com/walk.

Donations to support the walk can be made at https://rebrand.ly/FindingPeaceWalk.

On the walk, Mr Kemp has been giving talks in workplaces, schools, universities, and community groups.

He hopes his story of overcoming mental health struggles will normalise conversations about mental health, reduce stigma, and inspire others to persevere.

His efforts are also aimed at raising funds for four notable charities.

These charities are SAMH in Scotland, Mind in England and Wales, AWARE NI in Northern Ireland, and AWARE in Ireland.

Each of these charities provides vital services and support to individuals facing mental health challenges.

Mr Kemp's journey is rooted in personal experience.

For the first 40 years of his life, he battled undiagnosed mental health conditions and even contemplated suicide.

His quest for well-being took him through various roles, from being a punk, a cowboy in Australia, a London bricklayer, a Metropolitan Police sergeant, and later an entrepreneur.

His powerful story is detailed in his memoir, Finding Peace of Mind, published in October 2025.

Now, he dedicates his life to sharing his journey from mental illness to a life of purpose and hope.

He has appeared on Times Radio, BBC Radio, TedX, and in The Times and Tatler, and has been recognised as the British Dyslexia Association's Entrepreneur of the Year in 2011.

Reflecting on the walk, Mr Kemp said: "This isn't just a walk — it's a living symbol of the mental health journey.

"Beginning in the cold, dark days of January reflects those times when life feels tough, when all you can do is keep going one step at a time."