Manx fundraiser tackles round-island trek in sister's memory

Mr Allcote walked 102 miles (164km) aorund the island over seven days

A man who trekked around the Isle of Man to raise money for a mental health charity said people opened up to him about their challenges along the way.

Neil Allcote, 45, has raised £5,500 for Isle Listen in memory of his sister Lesley Allcote who had a mental health condition before her death in 2020.

The Castletown resident covered 102 miles (164km) in a week over Christmas.

He said he wanted to take on the challenge at a time that people "really struggle with depression and anxiety".

The walker, who also slept rough around the island after starting the walk on Christmas Eve, faced heavy rain and storm force winds before finishing the challenge by taking part in the Castletown New Year's Day dip.

He said the "horrendous" weather, which occasionally saw him walking through 1ft (30cm) of rainwater, forced him away from the Raad ny Foillan coastal pathway and onto Manx roads at times.

He was regularly "soaked" and while walking along Douglas Promenade the rain was "horizontal and I couldn't feel half of my face", Mr Allcote said.

Neil Allcote's challenge saw him sleep rough from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day

But thoughts of people struggling with their mental health and support from family and strangers made sure he finished the challenge, he said.

Residents offered Christmas meals and shelter along the way, and people approached the fundraiser for "a talk", some of which "really opened up about their problems", he said.

He said: "It showed me, if you have the right support, you can face anything."

The kindness of the Manx public had made the challenge "easy", he continued.

"People who are homeless, or who are fighting depression and anxiety, have got it much harder," he said.

"All I did was walk in the rain for a week."

Mr Allcote said he felt Ms Allcote was "let down" as she "didn't get the help she needed" from island health services, and that the money raised would support others who were in need of support.

Manx Care have been contacted for a response.

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