Walking cobbled and stony paths is an ancient practice – popular among pilgrims – helping those who gingerly tread the thorny steps to reconnect to the essence of life.
It is oftentimes a painstaking challenge but comes with an incredible sense of fulfilment and pride upon completion.
And now none know this better than Just A Chat co-founder, Conor Hegarty.
Conor – who founded the Craigavon-based mental health charity in 2022 with wife Amy – saw an important metaphor in the practice and decided to trek Northern Ireland’s highest summit entirely barefoot on Sunday (August 9).
The idea came about when in discussions with a team of Just A Chat fundraisers from Kingsbridge Hospital, Belfast. Every year, the team from Just A Chat want to do “something different” to raise funds and with “more people reaching out for support now than ever before”, they said this seemed like a good way to show “how important it is to take that first step”.
It took two-and-a-half crippling hours for the passionate advocate to reach the top. “One step at a time,” he says. And there’s something crucial in that.
Speaking to Armagh I Conor explained: “My goal was to get as close as I could to half way. I don’t know how but I ended up getting to the top.
“The hardest part was the start, just asjusting to it. Once we were into the forest and grass, I had a little bit more comfort but the adrenaline kicked in as soon as I stepped out of the car in my bare feet!
“It was the rain and the cold boulders and water coming from the streams. We got midway and it started really raining and the cold then set in. There were a lot of factors.
“There was bruising and cold. There were different stages of difficulty.”
Despite the inclement weather and harsh realities of walking barefoot in the wild, Conor miraculously made it to the summit without “one single cut”.
The Just A Chat team and the Kingsbridge Hospital hikers at the summit
He said: “It reinforces the message that when I was walking it I didn’t look any further than two feet ahead. That was the message we were trying to portray, stop looking at the summit, just look at two feet in front of you. If you can do each step well, you will get there. If I had looked up and run, I would have hurt myself and maybe not have made it.”
The team of five from Just A Chat and eight from Kingsbridge Hospital also had on-hand a first aider who “gave up his time” to support them.
Conor added: “It was good for the whole group… for quite a few it was their first time up a mountain. Again the message was, we didn’t tackle it without the right planning. When it comes to Just A Chat a lot of planning goes into your support. We talk about it, we plan and then we provide support.”
Conor and Amy set up the charity four years ago after meeting a young person in distress. While assisting that young person they noticed there were barriers to accessing support locally. The more they became involved in the community the more they found they were becoming that support themselves.
Today Conor describes their services as a “massive umbrella” covering the ABC area predominantly. However, he insists they will never turn anyone away based on their postcode.
While their services are quite local, they can assist with signposting and conversation for anyone living in Northern Ireland and encourage anyone in need of assistance to reach out through social media.
All monies raised through their JustGiving page will be put towards furthering their support groups for men, women and youths.
Anyone struggling with aspects of their mental health are encouraged to follow in Conor’s footsteps and ‘take the first step’.
You can find out more about Just A Chat and contact them directly here.
