The Association of Women Travel Executives (AWTE) has raised over £500 for a suicide prevention charity on its inaugural wellness coastal walk this weekend.

Members met at Durdle Door in Dorset for the walk along one of the UK’s most spectacular coastlines to raise money for Papyrus, which is dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people.

Papyrus is AWTE’s 2022 charity of choice.

The Dorset Coast wellness walk is the first event of 2022 focussed on positive mental health, and other events include further walks and a variety of open water swims – activities which have proven to have a positive impact on mental health.

AWTE Vice-chair, and Comms Director Lindsay Garvey Jones said: “I am thrilled with the positive feedback we have had from across the travel industry on the back of our inaugural wellness walk along the Dorset Coast.

“Raising over £500 for Papyrus, which is such an amazing charity, exceeded our expectations and donations are still coming through this morning.

“The walk itself was a fabulous opportunity to take a break from the norm and meet up with some old friends and an opportunity to make some new ones too, with ages ranging from 15 years to over 50 years. Conversation was flowing from start to finish (except up some of the steeper slopes) and of course the weather blessed us with wall to wall sunshine and a cooling breeze.

“It has certainly had a positive impact on my mental health this weekend as I continue to recover from a recent case of COVID and the brain fog which accompanied the virus.

“I can’t wait for our next outdoor event in June where we will be taking a dip in Lake Coniston one of the most beautiful lakes in the Lake District, to experience the positive impact of open water swimming.”

To find out more about upcoming events with the AWTE, including the next event, An audience with Lisa Talbot, on 10 May 2022, click here.