A father who is making an emotional 600-mile fundraising trip from Staffordshire to Cornwall and back on a steam traction engine in memory of his son is travelling through the Highbridge area today.
It comes after Ben True, 26, from Truro, took his own life after struggling with depression. Now, his father Martin has joined forces with his other son Joe and several friends to organise the ‘True 600 Challenge’, a 600-mile trip on a steam traction engine to raise funds for mental health charities MIND and the Invictus Trust.
The steam traction engine travelled through the Highbridge area on Wednesday afternoon (April 24th), arriving at the Crossways Inn in West Huntspill overnight. The team will head southwards this morning (Thursday) on their way towards Cornwall.
They will also return back through the Highbridge area in a few weeks on the second leg of their journey.
Martin said: “The challenge is certainly helping me. If it raises awareness and funds for mental health issues then that’s even better. The statistics concerning young men taking their lives are terrible.”
The group have already raised thousands of pounds for the two charities.
Daughter Laura adds: “My dad did struggle with Ben’s death – no parent should bury their children. He came up with this idea and it’s certainly helping him and, hopefully, others.”
“Ben was really close to my daughter and son – he doted on them. We knew that he suffered from depression but had absolutely no inkling that he was depressed at that time in Christmas 2017.”
She said that if the steam engine challenge helps even one family like them or someone struggling like Ben it is worth it.
You can donate to the charity event here and track their progress live here.
