Meet the man giving up his Christmas to walk 300 miles from King's Cross to Whitley Bay for mental health charity Mind

A man is walking nearly 300 miles from London King's Cross to Whitley Bay over Christmas for mental health charity Mind as the festive season "is a tough time for people with mental health problems."

Ray King, who is from Whitley Bay, begins his walk on December 19, which happens to be his 46th birthday and is scheduled to arrive back home in Whitley Bay on December 28.

Dad Ray, who has had both hips replaced in the past four years, explained why he is deciding to take on the challenge: "I've struggled with mental health myself and Christmas time is a tough time for people with mental health problems. When people who are struggling see what I am doing, they can see that people are thinking about other people at Christmas.

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"It's not just a case of doing it in the summer in shorts and a t-shirt, I am doing it at a tough time for everyone, but especially for those struggling with mental health issues."

And Ray admitted he has referred himself to Mind in the past: "I've referred to Mind a couple of times for myself, because I've struggled in the past and it was a self-referral, just to try and help myself."

He added: "I know people who have used Mind to help them through difficult times in their lives. I know a lot of people need it and these charities need as much help as they can to give the likes of myself and other people the help that they do."

Ray is due to spend Christmas Day walking from Pontefract to Ripon, and will not get to spend the day with his family. He is also missing another significant milestone: "It's my daughter's 16th birthday as well, so she said it's going to be strange with you not being there," but he said all four of his children are "dead proud."

So far Ray has raised nearly £1,800 for Mind, but admitted he might need help funding his trip and paying for hotel rooms. "There's a couple of people who have paid for rooms.

Ray is heading down to King's Cross on December 18, before setting off on the walk at 6am the following morning, on his 46th birthday.

You can find out more about Ray and his fundraiser, and donate to it here.