More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A supermarket worker once held at gunpoint in an armed robbery has attracted the support of 30,000 people after finding a way to deal with the trauma.
Oliver Bowers, 33, from Folkestone , has founded Walk the Mind - an online group that encourages others to get out and about walking as a mental health therapy.
The father-of-four waited 15 years before seeking help to tackle his demons, which he attributes to the being held at gunpoint during a supermarket robbery, aged only 16.
As part of his cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), he realised the true benefits of walking on the mind, prompting him to start the social media page in 2019.
During lockdown, membership soared into the tens of thousands with people from 120 countries joining his movement. About 7,000 of these members live in the Folkestone and Dover districts.
Mr Bowers, who works at Lidl in Dover and is club secretary of Cinque Ports Football Club based in Deal , said: "Being held at gunpoint was the most terrifying moment of my life. It took 15 years to get to absolute breaking point.
"After many personal ups and downs, I was diagnosed in 2019 with ‘emotional detachment disorder’ which is related to PTSD.
"I started walking my puppy Ted, who at the time was only a few months old in February 2019, and alongside my therapy I started to feel so much better in myself.
"Trauma comes in different shapes and sizes and effects every individual differently.
"Walk the Mind is my mental health awareness baby and thanks to everyone in the group we are now starting to spread our message globally."
The private page, which is free to join, invites people to post pictures of their walks and open up about their own struggles and the positive ways in which they are coping.
Mr Bowers said: "Waking sends positive endorphins to the brain; it's scientifically proven.
"It also brings perspective, your surroundings help stimulate your brain and the positive effects last for hours after."
It was members of the group who nominated Mr Bowers for a Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Award.
He was named one of four finalists in the ITV Meridian Fundraiser of the Year category but lost out on the top spot, on Friday.
However judges Ashley Banjo and Perri Kiely from dance troupe Diversity were still compelled to get in touch via Instagram and congratulate him on his achievement.
"It puts a lump in my throat that members nominated me," he said.
"The support you get from the group is incredible but to have messages from celebrities like Ashley and Perri is completely surreal.
"It feels unbelievable to have made the final four. It's something I'll never forget."
In addition to the campaign, Mr Bowers has raised £11,000 for mental health charity Young Minds.
He recently challenged himself to a charity walk of one million steps in a month, spending up to seven hours a day on the go.
He also completed a sponsored 40 mile walk with members also taking on individual challenges.
He's already preparing for the future of the campaign by starting a degree in counselling at Canterbury Christ Church University.
He said: "We're in the process of becoming a charity, which will be to research and promote mental health and the impact walking has.
"Once I have achieved my degree, I'd like to go in to schools, universities and workplaces to promote the benefits of walking."
The group is open to new members and Mr Bowers would particularly like to attract those who have not tried walking as a therapy before.
Search 'Walk the Mind' on Facebook .
