Hill Climbing Club (HCC) has organized a 20km bigwalk dubbed ‘HCC-Chowe Mental Health 20km Challenge’ slated for Saturday, 25th February in Mangochi, as an awareness on mental health especially amongst the youth and other affected groups and individuals.
According to the statement signed by HCC Global Coordinator, Mtheto Lungu, the decision has been made in awake of the rising cases of suicide in the country.
“Malawi has lately registered rising number of suicide and stress related abuses and murder across the country. In January alone, 39 Malawian have committed suicide, 37 male and 2 female due to various underlying factors including economic, family and romantic relations. Experts say mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, related to others and make healthy choices.
“As HCC, we believe that healthier and busier minds are important as they help people to beat stress and fight depression. As part of improving mental health, HCC believes being physically active is not only great for your physical health and fitness, but helps one to learn new skills, give to others and pay attention to the present moment. Exercising strengthens not only the human physical system, but also enhances mental capacity that withstand pressure from various street causes” reads the statement
HCC further disclosed that the initiative has been organized alongside, GetFit Mangochi, and Water Front.
According to HCC the whole program will start with a 10 minutes talk on Mental Health by an expert.
The participants will park vehicles at M’balula Which is that starting point, conduct a walk and run to Chowe for 10km and return to M’balula totaling 20km.
HCC has set K15,000 as participation fee per head which includes lunch/buffet, braai, start up drinks, bottled water, but excludes transport, accomodation, breakfast, and dinner including for those traveling from outside Mangochi.
Hill Climbing Club is a Fitness and Healthy Living initiative comprised of retired and serving military personnel and civilians with the objective of promoting fitness and a healthy lifestyle among people of all walks of life, profession, gender, age and physical status. It is a global membership with members based in Malawi, UK, USA, DRC, Zambia, Botswana, Tanzania and Lesotho, among others. It was established in 2016.
