Two fundraisers who endured harsh conditions meet in Sutherland

Jonathan Kemp, who began a 4,200km walk from Unst on 1 January to raise money for mental health charities, met fundraiser Chris Lewis while walking through Sutherland; Kemp has raised over £4,000 so far and aims to raise £80,000.

Two fundraisers crossed paths in Sutherland while travelling for separate charity efforts. Jonathan Kemp set off from Unst on 1 January on a year-long 4,200km walk across the UK and Ireland to raise money for mental health charities. He had passed through Orkney and was making his way through Sutherland when he met Chris Lewis. Lewis is known for spending lockdown on the uninhabited island of Hildasay and for previous fundraising for armed forces and children’s causes. Known details: - Jonathan Kemp began his walk on 1 January from Unst and is covering about 4,200km through Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland. - Kemp has raised over £4,000 so far and aims to raise £80,000 for three mental health charities, including Scottish Action for Mental Health and Mind and their Irish and Northern Irish branches. - The meeting occurred while Kemp was on a lunch break in Sutherland and a passing cyclist, Chris Lewis, recognised him and stopped to talk. - Chris Lewis previously spent lockdown on Hildasay, authored Finding Hildesay, raised about £400,000 for SSAFA, and is cycling around the UK for a children’s charity. - Kemp has spoken publicly about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder type two and about experiences that relate to behaviour during hypomanic episodes. Summary: The encounter allowed the two fundraisers to exchange practical advice about long expeditions and to reflect on mental health experiences. Kemp continues his planned route, which includes walking along Hadrian’s Wall and following a route linked to his great grandmother, and intends to finish in Galway next winter.