The Benjamin Barsby Fund

23/02/2026

Well, I didn’t expect to be walking almost six miles on Saturday, reminiscing about our time on the Robin Hood Way, but when we woke up to such a beautiful, sunny day, we found ourselves heading down to Thieves Wood without much of a plan at all.

And, seeing as the path of The Robin Hood Way is right next to the car park, we just had to follow the signs for a while…

It felt really good to be back on The Way - Amber playfully running ahead, us settling into a steady, rhythmic pace, recalling our excitement at walking this section back in June last year.

Pretty soon, we were crossing the road to Harlow Wood and remembered that we hadn’t been able to locate the Sheppard Stone last year due to the massively overgrown grass and ferns by the roadside. But on Saturday, there it was - standing quietly and proudly by the road, in memory of Elizabeth (Bessie) Sheppard, a young Papplewick girl who was murdered on Mansfield Road in 1817 (the road we’d just crossed).

I smiled, remembering when I first started working at Harlow Wood Orthopaedic Hospital back in 1990, and how the staff used to talk about Bessie’s ghost being seen near the monument. Visitors would tell stories of stopping to offer a lift to a girl who then mysteriously disappeared…
We didn’t see her ghost - but who knows, maybe one day we will.

Once we were safely in the woods, away from the roadside, Amber knew exactly where she was and charged ahead all the way to “mucky lake” - the affectionate name Benj and Beth have always used for the first lake at Rainworth Waters. She made us laugh as she jumped into the cold water without a second thought to retrieve the stick - a game she never tires of…she is a Golden Retreiver after all!

Reluctantly, we all left the water’s edge and, as we carried on along The Robin Hood Way a little further, it was a shame to see that the big wooden Robin Hood Way marker - the one showing Robin Hood’s fight with Little John in the water - was missing. But a quick Facebook search when we got home revealed it’s in the careful hands of the Blidworth Men in Sheds group, being lovingly restored back to its former glory. That felt like a nice kind of reassurance.

Amber, of course, wasn’t at all bothered by the sign’s disappearance, so we followed her lead and simply enjoyed wandering through our favourite parts of Harlow Wood, eventually crossing back into Thieves Wood again.

After a few “wrong” turns, we stumbled across one of the Robin Hood Way arrows and, without really thinking, turned back to follow it. It was almost like we were being gently guided home, as we walked The Way in reverse this time - and amazingly, we reached the car just as the rain began.

It felt like a little reminder that The Way is still there for us - quietly waiting, ready for whenever we’re next drawn back to it - almost as though it’s giving us a little nod and saying, “I’m still here whenever you’re ready.”

Just like our Benji B is always with us, it seems that now, the Robin Hood Way is too 🐝💛🏹

12/12/2025

Grief and love - opposite sides of the same coin…
Being a survivor of su***de loss is hard at the best of times but at Christmas time it’s doubly hard as Benji loved Christmas so very much.

This year will be the 11th Christmas without Benji but it doesn’t get any easier - I think whoever came up with the phrase that “time heals” never felt the loss of their child.

Yes, time has helped me build a life around my pain, but the pain never lessens.
Every day I wake up knowing that Benji is not in this world - I can’t message him, phone him or send him a pressie.
But, I speak with him - every single day.

And yesterday as I was laying the Christmas wreath that I’d made for him, at his resting place at Tithe, a big fat buzzy bumble bee came right up to my face - in the middle of winter too - not a common sight eh?!

How much more clear can my sonshine, my Benji B, make it known that, as he promised in his note to us, he would “always be with us” 💚💜
Love you my Benji B
Mum ###

27/10/2025

Good morning everyone

A few days ago, on the 23rd October - exactly 6 months after starting walking the Robin Hood Way, and the 10 and half year anniversary of Benji’s passing, Steve and I finally decided on the 10 charities that would benefit from the money that was raised.

Can you believe that that amount raised was almost £4000 (once all the GiftAid was added on)?

Amazing, so very generous of you all - thank you so very much.

The 10 charities that we’ve chosen to donate to are mainly Nottingham based ones, involved with supporting young people, especially men, who are struggling with their mental health.
And, because Steve served in the Army and also openly talks about his mental health struggles, we’re also supporting 3 Armed Forces charities that support serving and veteran Armed Forces members with their mental health - 2 local branches of National Charities and 1 National charity.

The charities are:
1. In Sam’s Name - a men’s peer support group that meet up for group chats in towns around Nottinghamshire

2. Bottled up Blokes - a group of men who come together to support other men in South Normanton, Hucknall and Nottingham - meet ups and sporting activities

3. Harmless - a Nottingham based centre of excellence for self harm and su***de prevention

4. The Tomorrow Project (a sister group of Harmless) - a su***de prevention and bereavement service

5 . Enlighten the Shadows - “A place for blokes to be heard” - in Kirkby-in-Ashfield - meet ups and sporting activities

6. Su***de and Co - a national charity for those bereaved by su***de

7. Base 51 - supporting young people aged 11-24 in Nottingham (and, can you believe it was founded in 1993 - the year Benji was born) who are very mental health and mindfulness focused.

8. Head Up - a national mental health charity for the Armed Forces Community

9. The Mansfield branch of the Royal British Legion

10. The Beeston branch of Forces in the Community

Thank you again - you’re all absolutely amazing

Our Benji B will always be with us 💜💚

29/09/2025

Hi everyone

Thank you so very much to all of you that have donated monies to our Walking the Robin Hood Way JustGiving Page which has raised £3,145 for the Benjamin Barsby Fund.
We completed walking the 105 mile long Robin Hood Way on September 9th, Benji’s birthday, to mark the 10 year anniversary of Benji taking his life, so we’re going to split the money between 10 local charities that support men’s mental health, su***de awareness/prevention and similar.

The JustGiving Page closes tomorrow so if there’s anyone out there that would still like to donate then I urge you to do so very soon…every little helps 💜💚

Keri’s Robin Hood Way Challenge for the Benjamin Barsby Fund to mark her 60th birthday and the 10 year anniversary of Benji’s passing.

23/09/2025

Our well deserved Certificate of Completion of the Robin Hood Way

What a journey it was…full of highs and lows, emotionally as well as the terrain, and we’ve raised £3,145.00 which we’ll donate to 10 local mental health charities too.

If you haven’t already, there’s still another week left to donate if you’d like to - the JustGiving page closes on the 30th of this month 💜💚

11/09/2025

I think it’s fair to say that we’re overwhelmed by your kind donations to Benji’s charity - The Benjamin Barsby Fund.

As we walked the Robin Hood Way on the 10 year anniversary of Benji’s passing it seems fitting to share your generous donations amongst 10 local charities and causes.
The money will help make real difference in the lives of young people affected by mental illness - helping to give an all important lifeline for someone feeling alone and vulnerable.

Thank you for your support 💚💜

The JustGiving page for the walk will be open for a couple more weeks if there’s anyone out there that would still like to donate xx

Keri’s Robin Hood Way Challenge for the Benjamin Barsby Fund to mark her 60th birthday and the 10 year anniversary of Benji’s passing.

10/09/2025

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day.

It’s a day to honour the memories of those we’ve lost to su***de and to offer support to those facing difficult times and those living with the grief of losing someone.

The stigma surrounding su***de is slowly changing and message of ‘Changing the Narrative on Su***de’ encourages us to change how we talk about su***de. To replace silence and stigma for empathy, compassion and action.

We all have a role to play in staying connected, showing up for those we care about and helping those struggling access the support they need.

Show the people around you that you’re there for them by asking 'are you OK?'. Because a conversation could change a life.

And, don’t forget that if you need to talk to someone you can phoned The Samaritans free on 116 123, at any time on any day and someone will be there with a listening ear.

09/09/2025

Happy 32nd Birthday to my sonshine, my first born, my precious son Benjamin 🥳

Today is both a happy & a sad day…although I’ll be celebrating 32 years of loving my son I can’t hold him tight in a great big birthday hug, because, just 21 years and 7 months after his birth, he lost his battle with depression and decided to leave the pain of this physical world behind 💔

Today is also the day that me and Steve will walk Section 18 of the Robin Hood Way, the final section, to complete those 105 miles (although we know we’ve actually walked more than 105 miles!) across Nottinghamshire, from Nottingham Castle all the way to Edwinstowe Church.

So, today, I’ll not only be sharing the gifts that Benji left behind - those gifts of laughter, joy, happiness, love and precious memories, but, I’ll also be sharing hope.
Because, since beginning to walk the Robin Hood Way, we’ve raised £2,730.00 that will be donated to 10 local charities and causes across Nottinghamshire that will, in turn, help give hope to those young people, especially men who are suffering with their mental health

I know that today I will definitely cry...but, I’ll also smile and laugh.
I’ll definitely grieve for all that will never be...but yet, I’ll celebrate all that was and all that now is.
And, at some time today, I’ll also wish that Benj was still here with me.
But, much more than that, today, I’ll respect his choice to leave.

So, today Benji B 🐝 I promise you that your memory & your love will live on within me for ever and your name will be remembered by so many - you’ll always be with us xx💛xx

Love & miss you so very much my sonshine ☀️
Keri - Benji’s Mum ###

01/09/2025

So, the final section of The Robin Hood Way is upon us - in just 8 days time, on Benji’s Birthday, Tuesday the 9th September, we’ll be walking Section 18, from Hazel Gap to Edwinstowe Church.

What a journey it’s been too - it’s taken us through so many woods and fields, up hill and down dale, seeing so much of the beautiful Nottinghamshire countryside. We’ve walked in the sun and the rain and we’ve cried and laughed along the Way too…but, most importantly we’ve raised almost £2500 for the Benjamin Barsby Fund.

Throughout the last few months several people have expressed that they’d like to join us - but, because of the logistics and us not usually knowing in advance when we were going to be walking, it’s not been possible.
So, we’re making a plan…

At 10am we’ll be at the Duncan Wood Lodge Car Park, Ollerton Rd, Worksop S80 3BP (on the B6034 - about 10 mins drive from the Sherwood Forest Visitor’s Centre, Edwinstowe)

And we’ll then walk the 0.8 miles to the official starting point - Hazel Gap (there isn’t any safe parking in this area - sorry)

The guide book tells us we’ve then got a 4.75 mile walk to Edwinstowe Church.
But, after walking 17 sections of the Robin Hood Way, we know that the book sometimes underestimates the mileage, and, seeing as we may go off track a little and we’ll need a couple of refreshment breaks we reckon it’s safe to say we’ll be at the church for about 3pm.
So, if you don’t want to walk the 5 and half’ish miles with us you could always meet us at the church.

This last section of the walk takes us right up to the Major Oak and we plan to spend some time there.
It’s about a 15 minute walk along the Major Oak Trail from the Visitors Centre to the Major Oak - so you could also meet us there and then join us as we walk to the finish point at Edwinstowe Church.
Hopefully we’ll be at the Major Oak at about 2pm.

The visitor centre is just off Swinecote Road (the B6034), Edwinstowe.
- On your Sat nav use NG21 9QB for the main car park - across the road from the visitor centre. It’s pay and display believe.
- Or NG21 9RN for the accessible/disabled parking - which is very close to the visitor centre itself. Possibly pay and display too.

I’m sure we’ll already be in celebration mode by the time we get to the Major Oak, so we’ll no doubt want to spend some time taking photos and eating ice cream (we sure know how to live it up 🤣 don’t we?)

By about half 2 we should be ready to walk to Edwinstowe Church - the official end point of The Robin Hood Way - we may have to make a quick detour to the accessible parking area though so mum can join us to walk to the church too.

If you just want to meet us at the church then there’s a car park right next it - Mansfield Road Car Park, Mansfield Road, Edwinstowe, NG21 9JU - it’s free but you can only stay for 2 hours max.
There’s other car parks in Edwinstowe and there’s also on street parking in the surrounding residential areas - so you should find somewhere to park.

We’ll be parking the camper at the start and the car in Edwinstowe, so if you have to go and get your car from the start point we should be able to help get you back to Duncan Wood Lodge car park, if needs be - or, I’m sure someone will anyway!!

We’ll be going for a celebratory pint and food in the pub bar at The Dukeries Lodge on the High Street, NG21 9HS - feel free to join us there too.
There’s a car park at the back of the pub and the door from the car park leads directly into the bar - oh, and dogs are welcome in the bar too.

Phhewww…
I hope you kept up with me.
It’d be great if you could let me know if you’re planning on joining us - as we’ll then know to wait for you at the start or at the Major Oak; and to look out for you at the church or the pub.
So, drop me a message on here or send me a text (if you have my number)

I honestly can’t believe that we’ve almost completed the Robin Hood Way.
Thank you so very much for all your support and your kind donations
Our Benji B is always with us 💜💚

27/08/2025

It’s just a couple of weeks until September 9th - Benji’s birthday and the day when we’ll be completing the final section of the Robin Hood Way, walking from Hazel Gap to Edwinstowe Church, to raise funds for the charity set up in Benji’s name - The Benjamin Barsby Fund.

It’s sad that the walk’s coming to an end, but, I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved - walking all those miles but, more importantly, raising much needed money to help young people, especially young men, who are struggling with their mental health - by donating much needed funds to small, local causes, close to our heart.

As you all know, Benji died by su***de 10 years ago now - he had sought help for his mental health in the 6 months previously and it’s then that we started to understand how little help was available and how much stigma surrounded mental health in young men.
We soon came to understand how much stigma surrounds su***de too…
But, these past 10 years have seen a huge influx of awareness into all things mental health and su***de - help is out there and the stigma is slowly changing.
And, we, Benj’s family and friends, have played our part in helping raise awareness and bring about some necessary changes.

Do you want to help raise awareness?
Do you want to help young people, especially men, be able to access help with coping with their mental health?

Then, please, please, please follow the JustGiving link below and donate to Benji’s charity - 10pence, 1 pound, 10 pound - anything - it’s all appreciated and helps us get closer to raising another £385 to reach our goal of £2500.

Thank you so very much everyone - he’ll always be with us 💚💜

Keri’s Robin Hood Way Challenge for the Benjamin Barsby Fund to mark her 60th birthday and the 10 year anniversary of Benji’s passing.

24/08/2025

Tuesday 19th August - Section 17 Whitewater Bridge to Hazel Gap completed.
Guide book miles = 6
Actual miles walked = 8.3

Our penultimate walk completed - time for some R&R and lots of reflection before we set off on the last leg on Benji’s birthday.
As you can imagine, today was a day of mixed emotions - it feels so strange knowing that we’ve almost completed an official long distance walking route and have raised over £2000 for the charity set up in Benji’s name in the process…he’ll always be with us 💜💚

So, back to Section 17 - the weather was a bit drizzly when we started retracing our steps from the parking spot of the previous walk at Whitewater Bridge, through Walesby Forest and towards the sandy outcrop of Robin Hood’s Cave.
Luckily the rain stopped at this point so we spent a good while exploring.
After years and years of erosion, the cave isn’t accessible anymore - in fact, we think it was only ever accessible from the other side of the river, which is what made it such a good hiding place for Robin Hood. Somehow, Steve managed to lean precariously over the edge, stretch his arm out and get a photo into what remains of the cave.

Amber was as determined as every to get into the water, but, it was a long way down - she eventually found a path down and was then brave enough to make jump the last few feet into the water but at one time I thought Steve may have to scramble down to help her back up - but she clung on and pulled herself up - such a shame I didn’t get a photo, she was like a little mountain goat.

It wasn’t long before we were walking over new ground, but, when I realised we were actually walking North and towards The Clumber Park Hotel again I was very confused - you’d think that by now I’d have got used to the meandering, topsy turvy route that is the Robin Hood Way.
So, I relaxed into it and simply enjoyed the stunning countryside and woods of North Nottinghamshire, safe in the knowledge that we’d be turning South towards Edwinstowe at some point today.

The guide book then told us were heading towards Conjure Alders - the area where the Rivers Maun and Meden meet - a flood area surrounded by alder trees.
When we’d negotiated the steep, root filled banks down to Conjure Alders, it felt like we’d been transported to the swamp lands of New Orleans - it was very eerie down there.
But, just ahead, there were a couple of footbridges leading into bright open fields - Amber tried her best to get into the water, but was defeated this time.
She was soon happy enough running around the fields and through the trees though.

Birdsong gradually gave way to traffic noise as the woods started running alongside the busy A614 which we knew we had to cross over soon. So, we were very relieved to see that footpath took us directly to pedestrian crossing. This wasn’t just a regular pedestrian crossing though - it had a section where horse riders could cross too complete with red and green horse symbols and higher mounted push buttons to allow horse riders to cross - amazing. It’s called a Pegasus Crossing. I’ve never even noticed the crossing in all the times that I’ve driven this stretch of the A614 never mind noticed the Pegasus part of it.

We crossed over the road and were now back in Clumber Park - albeit the outskirts - but Clumber Park nevertheless.
The path flowed gently through the trees and Amber ran playfully ahead - but then she started barking and as we caught up we noticed that there was a grandfather and grandson ahead, and the grandad looked to be pumping up the tyre of his bicycle.
He started to explain that he’d changed his inner tube but now couldn’t seem to pump it up, so, he and Steve set about sorting it together and before long they were on their way again - I tell you, everyone needs a Steve in their life.

A huge fallen log at the side of the path seemed to offer the perfect place for us to stop and eat - although a cheeky squirrel did decided it would be funny to drop an acorn onto my head - I may have over-reacted a little, but it did hurt - Steve just laughed.
Just a few steps after we set off walking again a bench appeared - we could have been even more comfy eating our food there - still, it was a perfect place for a selfie…looking at the photos later I noticed that I had a leaf in my hair - can you believe Steve never told me and it wasn’t until I was showering and noticed a leaf in the shower tray that I was even aware of it?! 4 blinking miles I’d walked and chatted to passers by with that leaf in my hair!! Hey ho - I was obviously embracing my inner hippie.

You could now start to tell that we were in Clumber Park as more benches kept appearing and the tell tale gates leading to big lodges…but, as we headed more southwards and past another lodge, Duncanwood Lodge, the trees started to give way to farmland.
Interestingly, there’s a carpark close to the lodge that could prove to be a good place to park for the start the next section - it would add just under a mile onto the walk but it’d be safer than trying to park on one of the lay-bys close to Hazel Gap as we’d done today.

The foot path then led us around a few fields and through some trees - where Steve then felt the pain of an acorn dropping on his head too - his karma for laughing at me earlier in the day.
And then we were back at Hazel Gap - we’d set off walking from here at the start of Section 13 - 4 walks ago.

So, we’re now back on the edge of Sherwood Forest and our Robin Hood Way adventure is nearly over - it’s sad to think that there’s only 1 section left and yet it’s also a very proud moment knowing how much we’ve achieved.

We have a few weeks rest now before Benji’s birthday - Tuesday September 9th - when we’ll be walking the last section, which, according to the guide book, is 4.75 miles and takes us through Sherwood Forest, passing the Major Oak to finish at Edwinstowe Church.

Let us know if you’d like to join us - either for the whole walk, some of it, or maybe to meet us at the end.
We’ll need to work out the logistics of where to park, where to meet, getting back to cars parked at the beginning
It’d be great to if you could come along and make Benji’s birthday, and us completing the Robin Hood Way, a day to remember.

18/08/2025

Saturday Aug 15th Clumber Park Hotel to Haughton - approx 4 miles to complete Section 15 and also Section 16 - Haughton to Whitewater Bridge - approx 3.5 miles
We walked 8.2 miles in total.

The weather was perfect for walking today (Saturday 15th August) so we were up and off early ready to complete the last two thirds of Section 15 and all of Section 16 - around 7 and half miles.
But, by the time we’d driven to the area suggested by the guide book to park near the end of the walk - Whitewater Bridge - to leave Gracie and then drive further up the A614 to start the walk at the Clumber Park Hotel it was almost midday before we actually set off.

But what a lovely start it was…we walked around the back of the hotel and were greeted by a lovely fairy glade, a lovely children’s play area and an area used for weddings…truly beautiful.

And then we were in a lovely wooded area which, all too soon (seeing as I love being in the woods) led us into some fields.
At the edge of one of the fields we saw an unusual sign mentioning Petroleum UK - it appears that there’s an oil well in North Nott’s - not quite up to Texas standards but an oil well nonetheless.
(When we were driving back after the walk we actually saw the oil well!)

Before too long we felt as though we were on the set of the Field of Dreams because the narrow foot path went straight through the middle of the corn field - we couldn’t see over them at all, and wondered if we would disappear to heaven as we carried on walking - hopefully you’ve watched the film and know what I’m talking about.

Once through the corn, a small plantation led us to the first water of the day at Crookford, another ford but a much deeper one than at Clumber Park, Amber could actually swim in it.

A wonderful small holding was next on our route - home to chickens and alpacas - made us think we were actually living our dream for a moment or two, but we had to carry on walking straight past.
We then met some boys on their bikes who quickly abandoned their bikes for a cuddle with Amber before we walked over a bridge leading into another small woodland area with a small river running through it - a picture perfect place for food whilst Amber played in the water.

After our food and a walk through the woods we stumbled upon a gorgeous Grade II listed red brick cottage - Beggars Rest - with a 360 degree countryside views from every window.
These views soon gave way to farmland and we saw farm buildings belonging to Haughton Hall Farm which has been built on the site of Haughton Hall. The Hall was abandoned in 1770 and all that remains now are a few stones that have been used in the current buildings.

The guide book then took us across a road, over another farmers field, a bridge over the River Maun, under a railway bridge and into another field.
But, when we told to step left for a couple of metres before turning right towards another railway bridge that marked the end of Section 15, which we never saw, we did begin to wonder if we’d gone off track - but, a quick check on the OS app showed we were still going the right way…

So, we were now on Section 16 and had only another 3 and half miles to walk - but our feet were a bit achy so a fallen log gave a perfect place for a rest, a drink and to adjust our walking shoes (as you do lol). But then Amber started playfully barking at a man walking his dog up ahead - the man put his dog on his lead so I did the same with Amber, but somehow or other, probably ‘cos I had one foot on the log and my laces unfastened, Amber twisted me round and pulled so hard that I lost my grip on her lead but luckily I didn’t fall over as she excitedly ran towards them both.
The man quickly let his dog off its lead and they played happily together - turns out it was a very friendly 10 year old dog that still thought it was a pup.
Then we got chatting - and the 3 of us were soon talking as though we’d known each other for ever.
The man, Grahame, guessed we were walking The Robin Hood Way and told us lots of interesting associations with Robin Hood and the local area and then, goodness knows how, the conversation shifted and we realised that we were all psychic and mediumistic and went in to have a weird and wonderful chat about the spirit world, dragons, Merlin, Wales, herbalism and so much more - we also found that he and Steve had both served in the Army and had both boxed in their younger years - so, yep, we swapped phone numbers and we’re pretty sure we’ll be seeing Grahame again soon - it was just a shame that we still had a few miles to walk as Grahame was heading home to get ready for hosting a Sound Bath session that evening - the healing energies of a sound bath sounded very appealing to us right now.

After we said our goodbyes the route took us the long way around a couple of fields and then over a road onto a narrow footpath with trees on one side and free range pigs on the other…
Steve needed to adjust his boots, again, so we took a few minutes to watch the pigs rolling in the mud - Amber would’ve loved to join them I’m sure - before walking by a free range chicken farm - fields and fields of chickens - amazing.
Amber wasn’t sure to make of the chickens at all and just kept stopping and staring at them, but she soon found an old ball in the hedge and that held her attention for a little while.

At the end of the free range chicken farm the signs for the Robin Hood Way pointed to the right - but, the book told us to go left, leaving the official Robin Hood Way to get back to Whitewater Bridge and Gracie.
It was a lovely walk though and as we walked close to the River Maun we came across a big sandstone outcrop, near Walesby Scout Camp, which apparently houses Robin Hood’s Cave - its no longer visible though due to years of erosion but it’s such a beautiful place to be.

Our walk continued downhill through Walesby Forest - a place we plan to revisit at some time. Well, we’ll be revisiting on our next walk actually - as the book tells us to park at Whitewater Bridge again to walk back up to the Robin Hood Way marker to get onto Section 17 - but, we won’t have time to explore the Forest then, so we’ll make a special trip out one day soon.

Once back in Gracie, we drove back to the Clumber Park Hotel to get the car and head home - but first there was time for a slice of tea and cake - there’s always time fir tea and cake after all…

Oh, once we were home, Steve found that a massive thorn had pushed through the sole of his boot - I thought it was a nail it was that big - no wonder he’d had to keep adjusting his boots today.

We’ve only got 2 more sections to walk now, so, if you haven’t sponsored us yet and would like to then please follow the link in the comments below - we’ve not quite made our target yet so would really appreciate it if you could.
Thank you so very much 💜