Grief walks bringing bereaved women together
BBCThe founder of a walking group for grieving women says the combination of fresh air and camaraderie has helped her through some of her "darkest days".
Amy Bassinder, from Barnsley, said walking had been an "outlet" for her after her dad died with prostate cancer in 2025, and she wanted to help others dealing with their grief.
She said: "I needed to find other people that feel like I do ... I thought there must be other people that feel like me and are burying their feelings."
She set up Walking Through Grief to be a space for people to have "honest conversations, talking about these people that you love and you'd lost".
"I've learnt that it's not talked about enough, people don't want to talk about grief," she said.
"You have a funeral and it's as if, 'right you move on now'... it just didn't work like that."
Bassinder said losing her dad had left a "massive void" in her life.
"My dad was my best friend, he was the one person I could go to with all my problems," she said.
"When people let me speak about him and I can be open like I can with this group, I do cry, and it's good to cry."
Amy BassinderLesley Logan said she felt "safe and comfortable" joining the group after she lost her husband.
"This is an area we came to a lot, and I probably wouldn't want to come on my own," she said.
"In this group... you can express exactly what your grief looks and feels like. There's an underlying understanding of what grief brings to you.
"And it's not all doom and gloom, we like exploring and sharing things... [about] just life in general."
Leonie Ibbotson said the group gave support to people who may not have family or friends, or who live far away from their community.
"I think it's a good idea, it's getting people together sharing stories and people can share ways of coping and managing grief really," she said.
Her sister, Hollie, was diagnosed with breast cancer soon after their mum became suddenly unwell and died in March 2024.
"It's been a mad couple of years. We're getting back on our feet slowly," Hollie said.
They said they planned to return to more of the group walks as a pair.
"It can get very lonely, but you've got a group of people going through same and similar situations," Leonie added.
Bassinder schedules the walks for different days of the week, at various times and in a number of locations to try and make sure they are accessible to everyone.
She said her dad was "the reason I'll keep doing what I can to help others, even on my bad days".
"I truly believe being outdoors is what kept him going for so long, and I know it is getting me through my darkest days."
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