A MAN from Hexham is taking on an epic 199.5km walk from Durham Cathedral to Holy Island to raise awareness of bipolar disorder.

Simon Kitchen will be joined by award-winning actor and director Adam Deacon, who lives with bipolar, on his journey of taking on the equivalent of 9.5 half marathons to symbolise how many years it takes to get a diagnosis of bipolar in the UK.

Simon is the CEO of Bipolar UK and president of the world’s first-ever Rotary Bipolar eClub and is using the event to raise awareness and vital funds to support the 1 million people in the UK living with bipolar and to shine a light on the estimated 56% of people with the condition who don’t yet have a diagnosis.

Alongside Jeremy Clark (Bipolar UK trustee and Rotary Bipolar eClub member) and Jeremy’s wife Daisy, Simon will set off from Durham Cathedral at 10am on Saint Cuthbert’s day, Wednesday 20th March. The 199.5 km trek is the equivalent of 9.5 half marathons.

 Simon said: “This walk will put me fully outside my comfort zone, having never walked this far before. But we wanted to really push our limits.

“Every half marathon we’ll walk represents a whole year that our community lives without a diagnosis, often struggling with really difficult symptoms.

“People living with undiagnosed bipolar can experience alternating periods of debilitating low mood and periods of hypomania where they might take impulsive risks, massively overspend, and experience paranoid delusions. Tragically, these challenges often result in the loss of jobs, homes, and lives.

“Getting a diagnosis of bipolar is crucial because it means someone can get the treatment and support, they need to have a much better chance of living well with the condition.

“Reducing the delay to diagnosis will improve and save thousands of lives.”

Joy Palmer Cooper, District Governor for Rotary North East, added: “It’s a privilege to support and raise awareness for such an important cause in the build-up to World Bipolar Day on March 30.

“Our network of Rotary members and the bipolar community will join and support Simon, Jeremy, and Daisy for sections of the walk along the way.

“We're really proud to be in a national partnership with Bipolar UK, with Rotary clubs nationwide helping to raise awareness of the condition in their communities, as well as promoting positive mental health more widely."