West Devon family announces training walk ahead of Team Darcy Sahara challenge
Michael and Debbie Hollinson, from West Devon, are continuing their fundraising campaign in memory of their daughter Darcy with a public training walk before their major Sahara Desert challenge later this year
The family of Tavistock teenager Darcy Hollinson are inviting members of the public to join a training walk this weekend as preparations continue for their fundraising trek across the Sahara Desert.
Michael and Debbie Hollinson, from West Devon, will be joined by members of “Team Darcy” for a 9.6-mile walk around the Isle of Portland on Saturday, May 30.
The event comes ahead of the group’s planned 100km trek across the Sahara Desert in November, which aims to raise £100,000 for PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide.
At the time of publication, Team Darcy had already raised over £16,000 toward this target.
Darcy was 17 when she died by suicide in 2021. Since then, her family has raised thousands of pounds for mental health and suicide prevention charities through a series of fundraising challenges.
In 2022, Debbie completed a 10k run in Canada alongside a simultaneous event in Tavistock, raising more than £15,000.
Last year, the family led more than 100 people on a 22-mile Memory Walk from Tavistock to Plymouth, raising over £30,000.
Speaking ahead of the latest challenge, Debbie said the desert trek symbolises the reality many young people face when struggling with their mental health.
“Each step across the desert reflects the enormous courage it takes to keep going when everything feels impossible,” she said.
“Whether it’s sand or sadness, progress can be painfully slow, but it’s still progress.
“We’re walking for Darcy, for those young lives lost to suicide and for every young person who needs to know that they are not alone.”
The Sahara challenge will see Team Darcy spend five days trekking through the desert in difficult conditions.
Ged Flynn, chief executive of PAPYRUS, praised the family’s continued fundraising efforts.
“We are so grateful to Michael and Debbie for their incredible and continuing support in memory of their precious daughter, Darcy,” he said.
“Adding another challenge to what they have already accomplished shows what remarkable energy and passion they share for saving lives.”
He added: “No child or young person should be alone with thoughts of suicide and thanks to fundraisers like Michael and Debbie more parents will be spared the unimaginable grief of losing a child.”
Members of the public are invited to join the Portland training walk, which begins at 11am on Saturday, May 30. The meeting point postcode is DT5 2JT.
The Moorlander reported earlier this year on the Hollinson family sharing Darcy’s story publicly five years after her death, describing her as “bright, spirited and endlessly curious” and speaking about the lasting impact of grief and the importance of open conversations around mental health and suicide prevention.
For more details of their challenge and to donate go to: Team Darcy – 100km Across the Sahara Desert is fundraising for PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide.