A GoHealth partnership with Walks4Life to support pilgrimage and mental health recovery
At a time when increasing numbers of people are experiencing anxiety, loneliness, depression, burnout, and emotional distress, we are raising money to support a new GoHealth project to resource the practice of pilgrimage in response to the growing mental health crisis
It started with a chance meeting
David Pott has been involved in the renewal of pilgrimage over the last 30 years, reviving several pilgrimage routes including The Two Saints Way and The 6 Northern Saints Trails. In 2023, he began to work with a collective on connecting pilgrimage and health. But a chance encounter changed this vision for David.
In January 2025, David was walking The Way of Life pilgrimage route in Bellburn Wood, where he encountered a fellow long-distance walker Owen Dawson. Their conversations began around taking care of the Northern Saints Trails, but took on deeper significance when the Owen’s son Joshua tragically died by suicide just a few days later. The death was later understood to be linked to severe online exploitation. David walked with the bereaved father on a number of occasions, accompanying him through profound grief.
This experience, alongside growing cultural awareness of the adolescent mental health crisis, became the catalyst for Walks4Life: an exploration of what ancient pilgrimage traditions can offer those who are struggling in mind, body, and spirit. Pilgrimage creates space for connection, meaning, reflection, community, and recovery.
At its heart, Walks4Life is founded on a simple belief: sometimes healing begins when somebody is willing to walk alongside us.
A sponsored pilgrimage to spread the hope
As David approaches his 80th birthday, he undertook a sponsored pilgrimage to raise funds for the next chapter of the Walks4Life vision and allow GoHealth to take it forward creating resources to support mental health. David’s 138 mile North Wales Pilgrims Way was completed June 2026 – the walk has ended, but the work continues – read on to find out how to get involved.
David Pott has spent a lifetime helping people navigate change, challenge, and growth. His experience spans youth work, drug rehabilitation, educational leadership, reconciliation, and the development of pilgrimage routes. He is widely recognised for his contribution to pilgrimage, including the creation of the Two Saints Way, and has led numerous long-distance journeys. Through Walks4Life, David brings together decades of experience in walking, pilgrimage, and human flourishing, alongside a deep conviction that journeys can be transformative when we walk them together. David is also a member of The GoHealth Community
David wants to ensure that the ideas, relationships, and learning developed through Walks4Life continue to inspire and support others for years to come at this time of mental health crisis.
“I am so glad that this pilgrimage is not only about setting my course for my 80s, but is also about the start of a very special partnership between GoHealth and the Walks4Life Collective. My desire is that every step of this pilgrimage will bring fresh hope to many who are struggling with mental health issues.”
David Potts
Why GoHealth?
At GoHealth, we are passionate about helping people flourish in body, mind, and spirit. The Walks4Life vision aligns closely with our commitment to whole-person wellbeing, spiritual health, belonging, and sustainable behaviour change.
“At GoHealth, we believe that healing is holistic, it touches body, mind, and soul, and it happens in community. David’s remarkable pilgrimage embodies everything we stand for. The Walks4Life partnership gives us an exciting opportunity to explore, with real depth and care, how the ancient tradition of pilgrimage can be a source of genuine hope and healing for people in some of the darkest moments of their lives. We are deeply grateful to David and the Walks4Life Collective for bringing this vision to us.” The Revd. Dr. Gillian Straine, GoHealth CEO
Through our work across churches, chaplaincy, leadership development, and health and wellbeing, we have built extensive ecumenical networks that enable ideas and resources to reach people across a wide range of settings and communities. We understand how to translate good ideas into practical tools that people can use in everyday life.
Alongside resource development, training, and learning programmes, we are experienced in creating communities of practice where people can share experience, learn from one another, and provide mutual support. This means that Walks4Life has the potential to become more than a series of walks – it can become a growing movement of people exploring how pilgrimage, spirituality, community, and walking can contribute to mental wellbeing and flourishing.
By partnering with Walks4Life, GoHealth can help ensure that David’s vision is not only preserved but developed, shared, and made accessible to many more people in the years ahead.
What Your Support Will Make Possible:
Getting the wisdom of Walks4Life and the healing potential of pilgrimage into the hands of as many people as possible. In detail, this means:
- Support a part time coordinator to develop and run the initative.
- Develop a suite of GoHealth Walks4Life pilgrimage resources, including reflective practices, breath prayers, and guided wellbeing exercises suitable for use on pilgrimage routes.
- Pilot a small number of guided Walks4Life experiences in partnership with existing pilgrimage networks and route providers.
- Adapt learning from the LiFT and Spiritual Intelligence programmes into pilgrimage-friendly formats that encourage reflection, belonging, resilience, and healthy behavioural change.
- Build relationships with key pilgrimage organisations and potential future partners.
- Capture learning and participant feedback from pilot activities in order to inform future development.
- Explore opportunities for future funding and longer-term sustainability.
Help Turn This Vision Into Reality
If you share David’s passion for mental wellbeing, community, and the transformative power of pilgrimage, we invite you to support this campaign.
Your gift will help ensure that this vision continues to grow and reach more people.
Most importantly, it will help create resources and opportunities that enable others to discover hope, connection, and wellbeing through walking and pilgrimage.