A Lurgan business owner and part-time search and rescue volunteer has committed to walking from Lurgan to Stormont in an effort to speak with new Health Minister Robbie Butler about the state of affairs with mental health services in Northern Ireland.
Tim McMillen, of McMillen Driver Training, has been a volunteer with Tyrone Underwater Search and Rescue for just over a year. But his involvement with search and rescue operations stems back much further to his time working with North West Mountain Rescue, before he settled down and had a family.
On the run up to his milestone 50th birthday, Tim began feeling a pull towards volunteering again. He wanted to “give back to the community”.
After reaching out to his friend, Malachy in Tyrone Underwater Search and Rescue, he was promptly welcomed to the cohort with open arms.
In the short space of time that he’s been with the small team of 15 volunteers, he has already been called to three major searches and multiple desperate calls for support. These calls he says don’t always fall within the remit of search and rescue, but they are nonetheless “crisis” calls that they can’t turn away.
Having returned to the emergency service world after a stint away, Tim can see – more clearly than ever before – the impact of the “mental health crisis” in Northern Ireland.
Speaking to Armagh I, he said they are really a “recovery” operation now rather than rescue. He explained: “It’s closure we are providing. Bringing people home.
“Every person involved in search and rescue I speak to says ‘we don’t want to be called out’. And, we don’t. We joined the services to help people but we don’t want to be called to a search. The sad fact is we are now the last resort.”
Tim recalled a search he was recently involved with in Dromore, searching for a man for two-and-a-half weeks. The ordeal took its toll on him, as it does with all personnel involved with incidents of that nature.
He began speaking with his team about fundraising and awareness and before he knew it, he suggested walking from Lurgan to Belfast. As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he was committed!
Since then, Tim has been walking around the Craigavon Lakes each morning in dedicated preparation for his 29-mile walk to the doors of Stormont.
His early morning, 6.30am starts, see many people join him for a dander and a chat. This in itself, makes Tim feel as though he is taking a small step in the right direction.
Already, he has had a meaningful chat with another man who has been struggling with his mood. He offers a friendly, listening ear and is happy to be the company that many may be craving. As such, he encourages anyone who wishes to join him on his morning training walks to do so.
He also champions the unwavering support of Ursula Leighton, co-founder of AEON Community Arts, who has been a constant help and passionate advocate of his work and walk. Ursula herself does much to support the local community and improve the wellbeing of those living in the Lurgan area.
As such, AEON Community Arts will be a beneficiary of monies raised through ‘Tim’s Walk’ to Stormont.
He also plans to provide funds to PIPS Suicide Prevention and perhaps as many as six other charities working for improved mental health services in Northern Ireland.
He said: “It all depends how much we raise. I don’t want to overcommit and end up splitting the funds and giving each charity a meagre amount. The more we raise, the more we can do. I have charities in mind to receive money but we will wait for the total sum and then decide how far it can go.”
While Tim hopes many will show out in support of his walk on November 16, 2026, he asks kindly that people refrain from hoping to complete the entire route by his side, due to resources and safety.
Instead, he respectfully asks that people show out in support at 3am at 100A Hill Street for his departure and at the gates of Stormont, where it really matters!
When arriving at Stormont, he hopes he may get the chance to have a quick, but important, chat with the new Health Minister – and former firefighter – Robbie Butler.
“Robbie worked in emergency services, he has seen it at the cold face,” said Tim. “He knows what it’s like to go to a call and know that someone is in crisis.”
Tim said he will ask the Health Minister for a “commitment”. He wants to see services improve, he wants increased rescources and, of course, financial backing for existing services.
Said Tim: “What you are finding is people have nowhere to talk, nowhere to go. I’m old enough to remember St Lukes’ and Bracken and now the only place locally is Bluestone. Lurgan charity, Just A Chat do a wonderful job but they are also under enough pressure.
“When someone is in crisis you talk about them being in ‘black fog’. Men in particular don’t talk. They bottle it up and everyone then thinks they are ok. This saying of ‘grown men don’t cry’, it’s not true. They need to open up and talk. But they need somewhere to go to do that.”
Tim hopes to have some physical support from PSNI, NI Fire and Rescue Services and NI Ambulance Services on the day of his walk too, in recognition of the fact that all emergency services are feeling the pressure of the mental health crisis.
He hopes people turn out in their droves to show their support and encourages anyone willing to ‘sponsor a mile’ or make a donation to do so to help further the vital work of charities here in Northern Ireland.
Follow along with Tim via Facebook here.
Make a contribution to Tim’s Walk via GoFundMe here.
