FRIENDS and family of Mike Malseed have followed ‘Mike’s life journey’ by walking, running, cycling and horse riding from Witheridge to Frenchbeer in his memory.

Mike was born in Witheridge, Mid-Devon, but spent most of his life at Frenchbeer Farm near Chagford on Dartmoor. Last November, Mike suffered a mental health crisis, which tragically resulted in him taking his own life.

Since then, the WTF (Witheridge to Frenchbeer) idea grew from discussions between Mike’s good friends Sue Parrott and Alison (Boots) Bright, who regularly joined him on riding holidays. The WTF ride aimed to track and remember Mike’s life while also raising awareness and money for mental health issues in rural communities.

Over the weekend, a group of family and friends followed Mike’s ‘life journey’ from Witheridge to Frenchbeer, finishing with a fund-raising reception held at Chagford Recreational Trust Clubhouse.

The funds raised will provide training for people from rural organisations and communities across Dartmoor.

The WTF organisers hope that the people receiving training will share what they have learned with others, helping people to better understand mental illness, notice any warning signs of mental deterioration and guide those in need to the appropriate support.

This will be done through a rural charity, the Farming Community Network, which can then allocate training providers. Some training will be organised through the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project and Chagford Recreational Trust.

The team is now looking for additional community groups through which to deliver relevant courses and would welcome applications from any interested people.

Keep an eye out for further coverage of this initiative in the following weeks.