A 26-mile walk along the Rochdale Canal from Chadderton to Hollingworth Lake is being organised this summer in memory of Dale Harris, with the aim of encouraging open conversations about men's mental health.

The Big Walk & Talk takes place on Saturday 1st August 2026, starting at 8am from Chadderton Football Club. Participants will follow the canal towpath to Hollingworth Lake and back, covering a flat route of twenty-six miles. The stretch of canal between Chadderton and Hollingworth Lake has been the scene of many conversations over the years, and this event aims to continue that tradition.

The event has been organised by Georgia Harris and a group of friends in memory of her husband Dale. Georgia said: "Dale talked. He had people around him who loved him. He was one of the warmest, most caring people you could ever meet, happy, funny, and always the first to suggest a walk with his friends. He wasn't someone who seemed to be struggling. He seemed, to most people, just fine."

She added that mental health issues are not always obvious: "Mental health isn't only about visible depression and isn't always the person who looks broken. Sometimes it's the person who looks like they have everything together, proud, capable, loved, and still carrying something too heavy to put into words. Pride is a powerful thing and society tells people, men especially that needing help is weakness. It isn't, it never was."

The walk is not a fundraiser but aims to promote the simple act of walking and talking, particularly among men. Georgia explained: "We're not doing this to raise money. We're doing this because walking and talking is the most natural thing in the world and men need to do more of it. If just one person has a conversation on this walk that they wouldn't have had otherwise, it will have been worth every step."

Statistics highlight the importance of such initiatives. In the UK, three out of four suicides are men, and many never seek help because conversations about their struggles never happen. The Big Walk & Talk exists to change that, one step and one word at a time. Georgia and the organising group hope that by walking together, people will feel more comfortable discussing their feelings.

The route passes several local landmarks, including The Ship Inn at Middleton, The Hopwood, The Blue Pits Inn at Castleton, and Hollingworth Lake. People can join at any of these points or simply come to Chadderton FC at the end of the day. Participants are welcome to walk the full distance or just a part of it, and no registration is required.

Organisers are calling on everyone in Oldham and beyond to take part, whether or not they knew Dale. The event is about community and showing up together to support each other. Georgia said: "We can do more. We must do more. And that starts with changing what we think mental health looks like."

Further details, including a map of the route and joining points, are available on the Facebook event page. The walk is free and open to all ages. The focus is on the conversation, not the distance, and every step taken together is a step towards breaking the silence around men's mental health.