DOLGELLAU Hospital staff have completed a sponsored walk for men’s health charities.
The outpatient department is working to encourage good health and wellbeing in the community and has set a target of £2,000.
The hospital staff joined forces with North Wales Police, North Wales Fire Service and local business representatives to organise a sponsored walk from Dolgellau to Barmouth to raise funds towards men’s charities.
Anne Thomas, staff nurse at Dolgellau Outpatient Clinic, said: “Men suffer inequalities in health, dying younger than women, earlier from heart disease, with poorer outcomes for other diseases and are three times more likely to take their own life.
”The best way to raise awareness is to make information available whenever and wherever it is needed. We work closely with the Orchid Men’s Health charity which provides information on male cancers, particularly testicular and prostate.
“Steven Evans-Jones is the Orchid North Wales Ambassador, covering a large area to give presentations.
“The charity would like to train more volunteers to reach out to more men and to do that they need to raise funds.
“The staff also work closely with the Farming Community Network, which is an organisation that supports farmer’s mental health.
“They provide a helpline for farmers who are experiencing distress for whatever reason. Volunteers are available to provide practical support for as long as it is required and again, more funding will allow them to train more volunteers.
“Both organisations would also like to provide more written information in Welsh and your donations can help us do this.”
Funds raised from the sponsored walk will go towards bilingual educational material for both charities and also to fund more volunteers.
The team were also joined by S4C presenter Alun Elidyr, who recently opened up about his battle with depression.
It is hoped the group will raise around £1,000 from the sponsored walk, which will then be matched by Barclays Bank.
You can still donate to the cause at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sandiewilliams