Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Over the past 8 years or so, I have become increasingly conscious of the effects that poor mental health can have on people and the prevalence of this problem in our society. I myself have struggled with my mental health for many years and know that so many of my close loved ones experience the same daily difficulties. A large part of the problem is the stigma that surrounds talking about mental health and the judgement that people feel they will experience if they ever open up about how they are feeling. 

Mental health is as important as any other type of health. If you had a persistent pain in your chest, you would tell a doctor. If you broke your leg, you would go to hospital. If you felt sick, you wouldn't go into work. Yet so many people continue to struggle with their own thoughts and feelings and are crippled by an inability to reach out and seek the support which they so desperately need. Too often, the results are fatal.

I support Mind, the mental health charity, because of the work that they do to break down the barriers and social stigma surrounding mental health. They need to be championed so that there is more awareness of the services available to those most in need. They also need financial support so that those services can continue to run and be expanded. In many areas, services such as counselling and therapy are massively oversubscribed. 

On 12th October 2019, I will take part in a 12-hour hike in the Scottish highlands. Even for someone who loves hiking, 12 hours is a long time and I am also a big fan of sitting down, so this will be a big challenge. It is a challenge for which I would hugely appreciate your sponsorship. 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.