31 July 2026
A group of 10 women, named the Poolie Plodders, have been stepping up their game to fundraise for Macmillan Cancer Support and the Alzheimer’s Society. In the past couple of years, the women have raised almost £6,000.
The group has been commended by mental health experts as an excellent example of women coming together to boost wellbeing and manage stress.
Heidi’s story
Heidi Paylor is a member of the Poolie Plodders. Walking helped her manage stress while going through separation and divorce.
Heidi says: “The group has helped me through some very difficult times as it is a safe space to talk.”
Heidi works as a receptionist for people seeking NHS community mental health support in Hartlepool. She says that her job is fast-paced and rewarding, and that it was a good distraction from her situation.
Outside of work, Heidi took to walking a lot with her little dog, Blanche, to manage feelings of stress.
“I made friends with a group of women through a mutual friend and joined them on a walk from Seaham to Hartlepool Coastal Route. During this walk we talked and realised that a few of us were going through difficult times. We offered advice and support to each other and would meet few times a week after work and weekends to walk and talk.”
From here, the women established the walking group.
Raising thousands for charity
The Poolie Plodders took on Macmillan’s 13-mile Northumberland hike last September. By doing so, they raised £2,700.
And, this July, the group completed the Alzheimer’s Society’s Trek26 Lake District challenge – a 26 mile hike. Heidi says: “We have raised £3,394 so far, which we are overjoyed with.
Visit Heidi’s JustGiving pageWe help and support each other and are really proud that we have fundraised money for worthy charities."
Walking for wellbeing
Anna McCoy, Recovery College Online Trainer says: “Exercise can have a positive effect on our mental health and wellbeing and it is great to hear about the impact that walking has had on the people who are part of the Poolie Plodders.
“It sounds like it has helped them to become more resilient and increase their connections with other people.
They have also raised a lot of money for charity too so have used their walking group to have a wider impact on society too.
“If people are wondering about some of the benefits of exercise and being in nature, we have free courses that you can do at Recovery College Online. These might encourage you to get outside and or starting to do more exercise.”
Kizzie Hodgson, Lead Nurse for Physical Health Care at our trust says:
There are many proven health benefits of exercise. This includes better mental health. From research we know that exercise can increase your energy levels, as well as having benefits for your self-esteem, mood and sleep quality. Plus, it can reduce your risk of stress and depression.”
Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning, and Empowerment
Peter Swan leads walking groups at ARCH Recovery College in Durham.
He says: “The Poolie Plodders are a great example of how a group of likeminded women have come together in the face of adversity and forge new friendships while also taking steps to improve physical health.
“We can all try different ways of improving our wellbeing through the CHIME framework, which stands for Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning, and Empowerment. Attending a local walking group enables us to foster various aspects of CHIME. For example, meeting new people (connections), giving us something to look forward to (meaning and hope), and feeling as if we can be in better control of our own physical and mental health (empowerment).
“Walking groups also have proven benefits by getting us out into nature, which can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and boost our immune system. Even a short walk in the winter months can expose us to natural daylight and help mitigate seasonal affective disorder.”
Read more about Talking Therapies.
