Dorothy House hosted a very special conversation at Bath Rugby’s Recreation Ground to help break the silence around men’s mental health, particularly when it comes to talking about grief and loss.
To launch the 2024 Men’s Walk to Support happening on the 9th March, the Locker Room Chat features Bath Rugby player and Dorothy House Ambassador Tom Dunn, fellow Ambassador, Alan Phillips and his son Seb (a new Young Person’s Ambassador for Dorothy House), Bath Rugby player, Kieran Verden, and Chris Eames, a recipient of Dorothy House’s care.
The conversation, facilitated by Dorothy House Hospice Care’s Family Support Lead, Dominic Denny, covers topics such as expectations upon men who are grieving, ways of coping with grief and how to support men who are bereaved.
Full Locker Room Chat
The full-length film has gone live on the Dorothy House Hospice Care website and is designed to open up conversations about the male experience of grief and bereavement.
Dorothy House Ambassador, Alan Phillips whose wife, Amanda, died eight years to the day of the Locker Room Chat, said:
“Some days would be horrific and… my role was just simply to make sure everyone else was okay. And that’s how I dealt with that… I was always trying to do a good job. I’d get up every morning and I’d think, okay, what have I done today to make sure I’ve made Amanda proud of me looking after these guys?
Chris Eames, Dorothy House fundraiser who’s Aunt died ten years ago at Dorothy House, said:
“I just I spend the first couple of weeks just trying to be as normal as I possibly could, but then the funeral happened and everyone came and paid their respects and it was like they all moved on with their lives. And I was like still hating the world for what had happened.”
The Men’s Walk 2024
Join Dorothy House on Saturday 9 March 2024 for the ‘Men’s Walk to Support’. This 8-mile walk is an opportunity for men aged 8+ to join together in solidarity, share their life journeys together, and raise vital funds to help Dorothy House provide crucial end-of-life care for our local community.
The walk starts at 11am from Dorothy House, Winsley, and participants will set off on the route that follows along the canal and finishes at Bath Pavilion – in time to watch the Six Nations Super Saturday matches.
Walking together
Whether someone you knew has died, you’re dealing with a life-limiting illness yourself, or just want to come together to celebrate a man in your life, Dorothy House would love you to join in this special walk for a great time and a great cause. Best of all, you get to celebrate your epic achievement with a well-earned free pint and food in the Pavilion at the end!
Team up with your brother, your son, your dad, your best mates – or take on the walk solo – it’s up to you. Whether you come as a group or on your own this event is a great chance to chat and share experiences with fellow participants, all while supporting our vital work at Dorothy House.
Event details
Entry is £25 and all participants receive a free event t-shirt along with their free pint and food at the end. To help raise vital funds for the Hospice, participants are encouraged to raise as much as they can to help Dorothy House continue to provide free end-of-life care. Last year’s event raised an incredible £54,000 and we’re hoping to raise even more in 2024!
So, whether you’re walking to show your support for Dorothy House, in memory of a loved one or because you’re in our care today – dust off your walking boots and sign up today by visiting dorothyhouse.org.uk or search for ‘Men’s Walk To Support’!
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Dorothy House Hospice Care provides exceptional free palliative and end of life care to a population of over 550,000 people in Bath & North East Somerset, and parts of Somerset and Wiltshire.
We provide medical services, family support and personalised hospice at home care for around half of the people in our community who are approaching death.
We are funded partly by the NHS, but predominantly by donations, our 25 shops, and fundraising efforts.
For every £1 from the government, we have to work hard to raise another £4 to make sure that we can meet the growing need for our services. To support us with our many fundraising efforts, please visit us online at dorothyhouse.org.uk or call us on 01225 721 480.
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