LINDA LUCAS
Linda & Tony are cycling from the Channel to the Med
Fundraising for Solihull Mind
Story
A few months ago, we decided that we needed to complete another challenge in 2022 and we signed up to cycle from the Channel to the Mediterranean on 17th June this year. We’re now in serious training for the 1,000 Km (or 627 miles) in 8 days, the first day being a slightly daunting 109 miles with 4215 feet of climbing! We start cycling in France in Ouistreham, Normandy and we finish in Sète, 2 hours South of Montpellier on the Mediterranean coast. All the money raised through this page will go to the charity.
We decided that a challenge like this should be done for a good cause, so we’ve decided to fundraise for Solihull MIND. It’s a local charity which provides a range of support to people with mental health problems. Amongst its other services, MIND runs a 3.5 acre horticultural project in Knowle which provides opportunities for organic horticulture (growing and selling plants), wildlife observation, conservation work, sport, carpentry and arts and crafts (under their Creative Spaces umbrella). It’s a wonderful facility which our local friends can go down and check out from the following link
http://www.solihullmind.org.uk/creative%20spaces.htm
Having been to see it we know it’s somewhere that Linda’s own father, who struggled with his mental health, would have loved to spend time – open spaces, all manner of projects, nature and conservation. No medical referrals or appointments are needed, people can just turn up to enjoy a drink and a chat and a range of tasks (if that’s what they feel like doing).
The local operation now needs an additional building to expand its conservation work and wildlife observation. It will also enable staff and volunteers to take breaks in that area of the gardens. Physical exercise and just being outdoors are recognised as being so important for mental health and well-being. MIND is helping to provide this and the new building that we are hoping to fund will make a significant contribution to user and staff / volunteers alike.
We’re hoping to squeeze in some fund-raising events in the near future but endless peddling is taking up most of our time at the moment – we’ll keep you posted on that!