Cowie handyman takes on gruelling cross-country trails trek for kids charity
Darren McKenna-Cullen is walking the traditional John o'Groats to Land's End route with the added challenge of navigating trail routes all the way down, sharing the importance of the outdoors on mental health.
A Cowie handyman is using a gruelling cross-country fundraiser to help fight back from the most tragic of family heartbreak.
Darren McKenna-Cullen is taking on the challenge of walking from John o'Groats to Land's End - but in an added twist, he is only making use of multiple long-distance trails across the length and breadth of the UK.
The trek - which will see Darren take on more than 2000 miles of various terrain - is being completed for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, a charity which grants life-changing wishes for children facing critical illnesses.
But fuelling him as much as the desire to help those less fortunate is battling his internal demons following the deaths of his father and sister within a year of each other in 2020 and 2021.
Darren, 40, spoke to the Observer on day 59 of his epic trek at a spot near Welshpool.
He said: 'I struggle with anxiety and depression atfer what happened and I work with a therapist who reminded him to find themselves that help ground me and that's where I realised it comes naturally for me to be outdoors.
'I did my first walk about three years ago for the mental health charity Mind and it was taking on the West Highland Way, Cape Wrath Trail and the Rob Roy Walk.
'I always had it in my head to do this walk across the country but I couldn't really fund it.
'When I decided to do, I wanted it to be a bit more unique and not the same way as everyone else so I'm going to be doing 12 complete trails along the way, as well as bits of some others.
'Even when I get to Land's End, that isn't really the end because I'll still have the South Coast Trail to finish!'
After struggling with the impact of that twin tragedy, Darren discovered the restorative power of the outdoors - and has also hailed the support he has received from documenting his journey on his social media channels.
Darren continued: 'In the run up to this one, I wasn't really sleeping or eating much, but when I got up there a day early, I managed to see the Northern Lights, said farewell the next day and I've slept and ate better than I ever have.
'That's a message I'd love to get out there from doing this - to convince people to get out at least a day a week and experience the outdoors because it can be such a good healer.
'A lot of people have been sending me lovely messages of support and we're just trying to reach more people with the fundraising in order to get to our target of £3,000 for the charity which would be amazing.'
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