CREATE YOUR LOST HOURS WALK IN A FEW EASY STEPS
Use the Lost Hours Walk Planner to create a walking plan to share with friends and family.
5 SIMPLE STEPS TO PLANNING YOUR LOST HOURS WALK
STEP ONE: Take the first step: Register your Lost Hours Walk
Before you plan your walk, let us know you’re taking part by registering. Once you’ve signed up, we’ll be in touch to answer any questions, provide handy tips, and support you in the lead up to your walk.
STEP TWO: Plot your route
Kick things off in a meaningful location or simply step out your front door to get started. Keep in mind the accessibility requirements for you and your team and think about how challenging you want your walk to be. An average walking pace is around 3 miles per hour – so if you want to be walking for 3 hours, a 13 mile route would be a good distance to aim for.
Use Google or a good old fashioned map to plot your route. Choose a big loop, a walk with a pit-stop, or some laps of a special place, just don’t forget toilet breaks and stops to rest and refuel.
STEP THREE: Make the Lost Hours Walk your own
Whether you’re walking in someone’s memory or taking steps for mental wellbeing in your community, think about how you can make your Lost Hours Walk personal to you. It could be personalised tees or a pit stop at your favourite pub… make it your own.
STEP FOUR: Get your community involved
Ask your community to join you in your Lost Hours Walk. Rally people you know, whether that’s your barber, neighbour, or mate from football. Unite people against suicide, and get more people taking steps to save lives.
STEP FIVE: Turn those steps into vital cash for CALM’s services
Set a fundraising goal and let people know about it! If you raise £500 or more, you’ll receive a CALM medal. You’re doing an amazing thing by taking a stand against suicide with a Lost Hours Walk - so shout about it. Social media, posters in your local club or your whatsapp group - get the message out there!
TRAINING TIPS
BEFORE YOUR WALK
Treat your feet
Wear shoes that you’re comfortable walking long distances in and give them a test run before the day to make sure they’re walk ready!
Train up
Start small and gradually increase week on week. Add 30-45 minutes each week. Your longest walk should be around two weeks before the big day, and don’t go above 75% of the end walk distance.
Be on your feet
Walk whenever and wherever you can, to work, to the pub, to the shops - get those steps in.
Step-up to suicide
Remember your reasons for taking part. You’re taking steps against suicide: raising money and awareness to support CALM’s life-saving service, and showing that together we can deal with grief differently and defiantly.
ON THE DAY
Remember to refuel
Walking for several hours is no joke (and will likely leave you feeling hungry and tired.) Drink plenty of water. Dehydration will increase fatigue and make you feel sluggish. A couple of well-placed snacks will keep your energy up and keep the hunger at bay.
It's all about the layers
Multiple thinner layers will keep you warmer than a single thicker layer, pack spares and don’t forget your woolly hat and gloves too!
Make a mate
There might be points on your Lost Hours Walk that feel challenging - check in with a mate if you need a bit of cheering on, or use #LostHoursWalk to connect with walkers across the UK.
Got more questions about planning your walk or fundraising - head over to our FAQS
Do the Lost Hours Walk in memory of a loved one
We launched the Lost Hours Walk to smash the silence around suicide and support people to deal with grief differently and defiantly.
Raising money in memory of a loved one can be a rewarding and a difficult thing to do.
On one hand, fundraising for a lost loved one can be amazing, giving you, your friends, and family something positive to focus on and work towards. It can also bring up some difficult and maybe unexpected emotions. Most likely, it’ll be a bit of both.
That’s why CALM are here to support you during your fundraising and beyond. You can contact us with any questions you have along the way - and if you’re struggling, our helpline is open from 5pm to midnight every day.
