Summer Solstice 2023
YELLOWWALK for Mental Health
Grow Mental Health supported by Expressway, the national coach service would like to invite communities nationwide to wear yellow and walk with us on this year’s Summer Solstice - Wednesday, June 21st 2023 - the brightest and longest day of the year. By supporting the YELLOWWALK for Mental Health, you’ll be helping us achieve our vision of an Ireland where no one needs to navigate mental health challenges or life's struggles alone.
Why I Walk? I have been doing the YELLOWWALK for Grow for a few years now. But really I do it for myself. As we learned during Covid walking is not only good for you but also enjoyable in its own right. We are all aware of the medical benefits of walking. It is not just physically beneficial (use it or lose it as my exercise class tells me) aiding circulation and digestion but also a source of mental stimulation. It gives us the opportunity to clear our mind of non-important distractions. This allows us to evaluate soundly and “be clear about what is important in your life and what is not” as the Grow Program tells us. As we celebrate this summer solstice, let us all unite by getting out walking It will benefit us all in ways we may not have expected.
Extra daylight helps our mood and our overall energy levels and June 21st is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, also known as the Summer Solstice where the “sun is standing still” and marks the beginning of Summer. Daylight increases our serotonin and melatonin levels which boosts our overall mood leading to better mental health and wellbeing.
Grow Mental Health, with generous support from Expressway the nation’s coach service, have chosen the Summer Solstice, June 21st, for this year’s YELLOWWALK for Mental Health. Let’s all make the most of the longest day of the year. We are inviting everyone to wear yellow and walk with us for 30 minutes. You can choose your own location and walk, hike, cycle, or run. It’s a great opportunity to make connections in your community by participating in a group.
Join us this year and walk the YELLOWWALK for positive Mental Health.
Summer Solstice Rituals are ancient celebrations dating back through the years in Ireland and around the world.
What if, instead of ancient celebrations you make a new tradition – a new summer solstice ritual? What if your ritual had a direct positive impact on the lives of people struggling with mental health challenges? What if your ritual could make a real difference?
This year, Grow Mental Health reminds us that June 21st is the brightest and longest day of the year so we need to celebrate this day – to form our own summer solstice ritual – you can choose coffee with the group first and then Walk the YELLOWWALK or vice versa – yoga first and then Walk the YELLOWWALK – whatever ritual you choose just include the 30 minute YELLOWWALK and start making Connections in your Community.
So let’s wear yellow and walk for Mental Health. Together we are stronger.
Expressway, the national premium coach service, provides direct and regular services throughout Ireland. They are the Community Frontline Workers connecting people to places that matter to them.
For the third year in a row, Expressway and Grow Mental Health are teaming up to bring you the YELLOWWALK for Mental Health. Without our corporate partner, we wouldn’t be able to provide our lovely yellow t-shirts or promote the event throughout the county. The partnership between Expressway and Grow Mental Health exemplifies Expressway’s commitment to supporting the mental health of their own workforce.
Also daily activities like getting on a bus can be a massive undertaking for anyone dealing with a mental health challenge and so a simple act of kindness by a bus driver can make a huge difference to that passenger.
Why not take a look at our video’s of the yellow walk in 2022 or #YELLOWWALK success to get some inspiration or ideas for making connections in your Community? The whole of Ireland was drenched with rain but we came out anyway, met with friends, family, and colleagues, and had fun getting soaked together!
Talk a look at our YELLOWWALK success page
To register for the 2023 YELLOWWALK simply to go online to:
https://buytickets.at/grow22/916350
Or
Scan the QR Code
Order a YELLOWWALK T-shirt along with your registration or simply wear yellow on the day
Encourage family, friends, and colleagues to register and walk/hike/run/cycle with you for 30 minutes
Post photos to social media on the day using #YELLOWWALK and tag @grow.mentalhealth and @expresswayire.
Register online, Wear Yellow and walk for 30 minutes on the 21st June.
There is a registration fee for the YELLOWWALK, but we are not asking you to fundraise in addition to the registration.
Registration fees are:
€10 per single registration
€15 per group (max. 4),
€20 per family (max. 6)
If you choose to buy a YELLOWWALK T-Shirt – the costs is 10€ including postage.
Your registration contribution will allow Grow Mental Health to expand the number and reach of our national network of in-person and online peer support groups. With your participation, we can reach more people who are trying to overcome mental health challenges so that they don’t have to suffer alone.
Walking is a gentle form of exercise which is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. Walking increase oxygen flow throughout the body and can help us to de-stress and relax and improve our overall mental health.
Studies show that being active can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Physical Activity is key – it can focus and sharpen your mind while enhancing your immune system.
An added benefit, if you are walking in nature – you can listen to the birds singing or just simply observe nature either on your own or in a group. It’s an ideal way to make connections in your Community.
Would you rather hike, cycle, or run? Go for it! Just get out there and move for 30 minutes over the course of the longest day of the year.
- Bus Aras, 11.30 AM, John, (086) 8033126
- Wicklow Town, 3.30 PM, Leaving from in Front of AIB on Main Street, Wayne, (086) 1633766
- Arklow Town, Trish, (086) 012 9082
- Clontarf, 7.30PM, Red Stables, St Annes Park to Vernon Avenue via the sea front. Cath, (086) 0517015
- Dun Laoghaire, 7PM, Dun Laoghaire Pier, Trish, (086) 012 9082
- Swords, 12.30 on Tues 20th June, The Ward River Valley Park (Jacko), Helena, (086) 1702222
- Trinity College Dublin, 3PM, walk starts at the entrance to the college and ends at St. Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, Giselle, (089) 9803605
Here is the link to register for any of the above-mentioned walks:
- Cork Bus Station, 11:30 AM, Jenny Synnott, (086) 1374036
Cork Fitzgerald’s Park, 11:30 AM, Finola O’Callaghan (086) 7702807
- Kanturk Town Park, time and location tbc, Noreen, (086) 1726004
Here is the link to register for any of these walks: Register here
- Galway Bus Station, 11:30 AM, Alan, (086) 4177726
Here is the link to register for this walk: Register here
- Limerick Bus Station, 11:30 AM, Michael, (086) 6063182
- Shanagolden Community Hall, time and location tbc, Joan, (086) 8113477
- Glebe, Oola, 7 PM, Oola Community Centre, (Co Limerick), Mary, (086) 8231624
- Ennis, 7 PM, Tuesday 20th June Meeting at Fair Green (across from St. Joseph’s Hospital), Cecilia, (086) 1526966
Here is the link to register for any of these walks: Register here
- Mullingar, 11 AM, from Cusack Park along the Famine Walk, Assumpta, (086) 8114135
Here is the link to register for this walk: Register here
- Trim, Co Meath, 11AM, Community House. Mornington, Trim, Clar, 087 1431997
- Castleblayney, Tuesday 20th at 8.30 PM, starting at Iontas Centre in Castleblayney. Eileen, (086) 0436258
- Cavan, Monday 26th at 7pm, Focus Centre in Killeshandra, Co. Cavan, Michael, (086) 3146699
- Dundalk, 6:30 PM, Monday 19th June from the Redeemer Resource centre, Dundalk, Attracta, (086) 0320545
Here is the link to register for any of these walks: Register here
- Letterkenny, 9:30 AM, Letterkenny Community Centre Walking Track, Paul, (086) 7702860
Here is the link to register for this walk: Register here
- Kilkenny Town, 7 PM, Kilkenny Castle Park, Commences at the Castle Park entrance, Liz, (086) 0849171
- Cahir, 7 PM, Swiss Cottage, Ardfin Road, Treasa, (087) 9051275
- Waterford, 11:30 AM, Waterford Bus station, Felicia, (086) 1034332
Here is the link to register for any of these walks: Register here
Have you registered for the YELLOWWALK on June 21st, but for whatever reason now you are unable to walk but would still like to participate? Or maybe you want to connect with a larger community to share your YELLOWWALK experience?
Please join us on June 21st at 2 PM for an online community gathering. Simply register through this link: https://buytickets.at/grow22/927724, and then email [email protected] to let us know you would like to join the YELLOWWALK online community space.
We will send you a zoom link the day before. We hope to see you there!
