Lancashire Mind's CEO David Dunwell is taking on the The Great Run- Manchester 10k to raise vital funds during Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 (15th to 21st May).
"It’s an incredibly exciting time at Lancashire Mind as we have been given the opportunity to raise significant funds for our work supporting children and young people in the county. The chance to have all donations matched through the Big Give is one I want to help the organisation make the most of, so I’ll be taking part in the Great Manchester Run. I’m proud to be a part of a charity doing such fantastic work promoting mental health and wellbeing in the county, an area I’m deeply passionate about, so I’m eager to take on the challenge of my first 10K to help us reach as many people as we can with our services."
All donations made to David's challenge will be doubled thanks to a partnership with The Big Give Kind2Mind. The Big Give runs campaigns for charities and special causes at key moments across the year, helping them double their donations with match funding.
Lancashire Mind are aiming to raise £7,500 during the week which will be doubled to £15,000. The funds will be used to continue a vital 1 to 1 Wellbeing Coaching service for young people.
Lancashire Mind CEO, David Dunwell, said: “Right now, children’s mental health is in crisis, and we will be using the money I raise and other donations to the Kind2Mind campaign to help ensure we can continue to run our vital Children and Young People (CYP) services."
"I'm not a runner and have never run a 10k before so this is a real challenge for me and it won't be easy. I'll be running for my family and friends who have experienced a mental health condition as well as everyone in Lancashire who needs to access support and services. That is what will keep me going!"
The pandemic, social inequality, austerity and online harm have all contributed to a crisis which has seen NHS referrals for under-18s increase to more than 1.1m in 2021-22.
More and more children are experiencing poor mental health and are waiting months to access NHS services. The earlier a child receives support, the more likely they are to recover and remain well. The work we do is about prevention and helping children before they get to that crisis point.
This is an opportunity to help create a Lancashire where children get the support they need, when they need it.
The Kind2Mind campaign will run during Mental Health Awareness Week, from Monday 15th May to Sunday 21st May. Money donated during that week over £1 will be matched pound for pound up to £7,500, with the charity hoping to reach this target and double it to £15,000 in total.