Our Mission

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 Martin started attending one of our Walking Groups at the end of June this year.  He had lost his partner just before Christmas and was really struggling with anxiety and confidence.  He wasn’t sure right until the last minute that evening whether he was going to attend, but he managed to get out and into the car and come along to the walk.

That first evening Martin walked with one of our Walk Leaders behind the main group and they talked about his partner and how he was feeling.  The group walked for about an hour and at the end he thanked everyone and left.  We were pleased that Martin came back the next week and over the next few weeks he was able to mix more with the group and chatted with other people.  Every week we could see his confidence improving and he started doing his own walks in between the group walks.

Martin started attending other Red Balloons group walks.  He now walks 2-3 miles a day and attends up to 4 walks a week with us.  

Martin says ‘I don’t know where I’d be now without Red Balloons.  I have a wonderful close supportive family but it’s often easier to talk to people you don’t know.  That first week it took just about all my strength to go along to the group walk, but the welcome I received and the support and kindness that was there has helped me through the last few months.  I feel fitter, I’ve lost weight and I know that, however I feel, I’ve always got somewhere to go through the week and someone to talk to’