A HIKER who packed his life into a rucksack and set off to walk the UK after hitting \u201crock bottom\u201d is trekking across Shetland this month.<\/p>\n
Daniel Hunt left his mother\u2019s doorstep in Maidenhead on 1 June this year, and has never looked back on his quest to walk the entire UK coastline in aid of a mental health charity.<\/p>\n
Hunt\u2019s mission is personal as well. After years of issues with alcohol, he says he decided to set off on a sober journey across the UK to mend his own mental health.<\/p>\n
The 37-year-old arrived in Shetland yesterday morning (Friday) and set off walking north \u2013 where he will eventually reach Unst \u2013 before coming back down the way to Sumburgh.<\/p>\n
And he has already been bowled by the Shetland hospitality, something he jokes he was \u201cwarned about\u201d when in Orkney recently.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people are incredible,\u201d he told Shetland News on Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople keep pulling their cars over to offer me a lift, and I keep having to tell people \u2018no thanks, I don\u2019t need a lift\u2019. Already the people have been so friendly here.\u201d<\/p>\n
As if to accentuate the point, as Hunt responds a car beeps his horn and waves to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love a bit of Shetland,\u201d he laughed.<\/p>\n
This is day 157 of Hunt\u2019s journey across the UK, and he has a long road ahead of him \u2013 literally and figuratively \u2013 with the adventure not expected to end for at least another year.<\/p>\n
He is no stranger to a marathon mission. The former army man explained that he had cycled across 23 countries in Europe and canoed the length of the river Thames.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t do things in halves,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m an all or nothing guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
This UK-wide journey had a difficult starting point for Hunt, though. He said that he had long suffered severely with depression and an addiction to alcohol, which had culminated with him hitting \u201crock bottom\u201d earlier this year.<\/p>\n
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Already a member? Sign in<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAA [Alcoholics Anonymous] and counselling just weren\u2019t working for me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI never used to talk about my problems, and then I hit rock bottom. That was the main purpose of this, just to get out hiking and to get out into nature.\u201d<\/p>\n He said that he had a flat, a job as a painter\/decorator and \u201ceverything that should make you happy in life\u201d before an episode earlier this year.<\/p>\n Hunt decided then to take on this challenge, and within weeks of reaching his lowest ebb \u201cpacked my life into a rucksack\u201d and set off.<\/p>\n Daniel Hunt with his tent.<\/p>\n Leaving his mother\u2019s doorstep on 1 June, Hunt started walking and has not stopped since. What did his family make of him taking this step?<\/p>\n \u201cThey were worried,\u201d Hunt admitted.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were worried because they know what I\u2019m like, but they\u2019re very proud of me.<\/p>\n \u201cI have the most loving family in the world, they just want me to get better and support me in anything I do.<\/p>\n \u201cI can pick up the phone to them at any given moment.\u201d<\/p>\n It is not just Hunt\u2019s family who are proud of his journey so far. He says he is proud of himself as well.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the first time I have been sober since I picked up alcohol,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n \u201cI have the most addictive personality you will ever meet. But I\u2019m sober and healthy, my mind is clear.<\/p>\n \u201cI still have ups and downs every single day, mental health is a big part of my life.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I can\u2019t even talk about how beautiful this has been \u2013 it\u2019s a healer, just getting out in the fresh air, having nice views.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI never used to talk about my problems, and then I hit rock bottom\u201d \u2013 Daniel Hunt<\/p>\n Across his trek so far Hunt has been met with \u201cnothing but positivity\u201d.<\/p>\n He is raising money for the Mental Health Foundation on his walk, but for him it is not just about that.<\/p>\n Through his Instagram page he is cataloguing every step of his mental health journey, and he wants to be an inspiration for more people who are suffering.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to spread the word as much as possible,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n His mind is in a great place, Hunt said, but how is his body holding up after 157 days of walking?<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m absolutely knackered, I can\u2019t lie to you,\u201d he laughed \u2013 before calling it a \u201chealing journey\u201d.<\/p>\n Hunt expects to be in Shetland for around three weeks, and he has encouraged anyone who sees him to stop him and speak to him as he goes.<\/p>\n You can follow his journey on his Instagram page here<\/a>, and you can donate to his fundraiser here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Anyone worried about their own or someone else\u2019s alcohol use should visit the Shetland Alcohol and Drug Partnership website<\/a> for information and details on how to access support.<\/p>\n Alternatively people can contact the Substance Support and Recovery Service based in the Lerwick Health Centre on 01595 743006 or the Shetland Recovery Hub and Community Network in Pitt Lane on 01595 744402.<\/p>\n A list of mental health support services available to people in Shetland can be found on the Healthy Shetland website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Your membership helps us report the stories that matter to Shetland \u2014 and keep them free for everyone to read.<\/p>\n Already a member? Sign in<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n