Beginning in the Shetland Islands on 1 January 2026 and concluding in Edinburgh on 25 February, Jonathan Kemp, Viscount Rochdale, will set out on a remarkable 10-month journey.
Covering 4,200km over 296 days, he will travel across Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland, aiming to raise £80,000 for four mental health charities and encourage open conversations around mental health.
Along the way, Jonathan will give talks in workplaces, schools, universities and community groups on his own powerful story of living with bipolar disorder, depression, addiction and dyslexia. Jonathan is keen to invite members of the public to walk alongside him for a mile, a day, or more – or simply offer support from the side-lines. For more information visit: www.jonathankemp.com/walk.
For the first 40 years of his life, Jonathan battled undiagnosed mental health conditions, and contemplated death by suicide. He spent years trying to distance himself from family expectations, searching for a sense of well-being as a punk, a cowboy in Australia, a London bricklayer, a Metropolitan Police sergeant, and later an entrepreneur. He shared his story in his powerful memoir, Finding Peace of Mind (Troubador, October 2025). Now, he wants to share his journey from mental illness to a life of purpose and hope, normalising conversations about mental health, reducing stigma, and inspiring others to keep going, while raising money for four charities:
SAMH – Scotland www.samh.org.uk
Around since 1923, SAMH is Scotland’s national mental health charity. They operate over 70 services in communities across Scotland, providing mental health social care support, addictions and employment services, among others.
Mind – England & Wales www.mind.org.uk
Mind is the national mental health charity in England and Wales that fights for everyone to get the mental health support they deserve. Mind provides a wide range of services, including a national Infoline, legal advice, online resources, and support through local branches. Mind’s work focuses on offering support, fighting for mental health policies, and breaking down societal stigma.
AWARE NI – Northern Ireland www.aware-ni.org
AWARE NI is the Depression Charity for Northern Ireland. Based in Derry/Londonderry and Belfast, they have an established network of 24 support groups across the country alongside online support group options, welcoming people with low mood, anxiety, depression and bipolar as well as carers for people with mental ill-health.
AWARE – Ireland www.aware.ie
Founded in 1985, AWARE is a voluntary organisation based in Ireland which aims to assist people affected by depression, bipolar disorder and related mood conditions. They offer support and self-care groups for people who experience depression or bipolar disorder, a support Line, support mail and training and education programmes.
Anyone can donate here: https://rebrand.ly/FindingPeaceWalk
“This isn’t just a walk — it’s a living symbol of the mental health journey. Beginning in the cold, dark days of January reflects those times when life feels tough, when all you can do is keep going one step at a time.”
Jonathan
Jonathan Kemp, Viscount Rochdale, is a survivor, author, and relentless innovator. He is an entrepreneur, former law enforcement official and mental health advocate who was unaware that bipolar disorder, depression and dyslexia were shaping his life. He has appeared on Times Radio, BBC Radio, TedX and in the Times and Tatler. He won the British Dyslexia Association’s ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award in 2011 and has worked with organisations and academic institutions using SmartWisdom to support people to excel at work and study. www.jonathankemp.comhttp://www.jonathankemp.com.
