Walking from Leeds to London for mental health awareness

But inspirational Chloe Bellerby, 18, doesn’t just talk the talk, she walks the walk.

All 220 miles between Leeds and London - and she will be raising funds for charity when she sets off on Easter Monday.

The A level student, who herself has battled with mental health, hopes her 10-day trek will encourage young people to open up about the way they are feeling.

Just two years ago the teenager, from Harrogate, was in hospital after a suicide attempt.

But Miss Bellerby now says she is now determined to help others realise that finding support can help overcome depression.

“I was in a bad way,” she told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

“The mind can play tricks on you but a teacher at school saw something was wrong and helped me enormously.

“I have a lovely family, good friends but I found myself so down and couldn’t explain it.

“I want to let people know that talking about depression really helps.”

Her fundraiser comes as the YEP is calling on people to help raise awareness of mental health issues, as part of our #SpeakYourMind campaign.

After completing her GCSEs, Miss Bellerby volunteered to help out the school’s PE department - and it was then that one teacher took her to one side and liaised with her family to encourage the conversation.

The Leeds United fan starts her epic journey to London on Easter Monday, leaving the Royal Armouries at 10.30am, before dropping by Billy Bremner’s statue at Elland Road.

The teenager also plays football for Harrogate Town Ladies, and will take up a prestigious Soccer scholarship in the US in August. She is raising money for the mental health charity Mind.

Click here to visit Miss Bellerby’s JustGiving page and donate to her fundraising