Peter

This May, we're celebrating National Walking Month — and the gentle, healing power of taking one step at a time, together.

Peter knows how hard those first steps can be. After losing his beloved wife, the world felt very different.

But through Cruse Scotland's Walk & Talk group, he found something he didn't expect — company, comfort, and the quiet reassurance that he wasn't walking this path alone. He shares how the Walk & Talk group has helped him.

Can you tell us a bit about why you reached out to Cruse Scotland for support?

Five months ago, my wife died. I felt that at the time, I needed some support.

I got a brochure from the hospital where my wife died, which detailed various places I could go for help, and one was Cruse Scotland.

The person I reached out to suggested the Walk & Talk group, so I signed up for that.

Lesley contacted me and offered me a place on her walking groups, one in Forfar and one in Dundee, and I took her up on both. I felt it would be good for me to do a weekly rather than a fortnightly walk.

How has the Walk & Talk group helped you?

It is something different than what my wife and I would have done. I think the social situations where we did things together, I feel I just cannot go without her.

The Walk & Talk group is something different. So, it was easy for me to go on that, and obviously, there are people with similar experiences, and of course, Lesley to guide us a bit.

So, in terms of that, it was a good help.

Do you feel the Walk & Talk group has helped you come to terms with your grief?

It has certainly been a start. Having other people in the Walk & Talk group who have been there for quite a while has been a great help in terms of how they have dealt with things.

It is very helpful from that point of view that others who have had the experience and how it has affected them are different, and I can obviously relate to much of what they say, and that is helpful.

Would you recommend joining the Walk & Talk group to others?

It costs nothing but a little bit of your time to try it. If it is not for you, there is other support out there.

First, try it. You can go for two or three walks locally. If you can go to more than one group, it is worthwhile just to see who is there and to whom you can relate.

To find out more about our Walk & Talk groups, please click here.