Our annual Mental Elf Event returns for 2021! - We have decided to continue as a virtual event for this year to ensure everyone's safety and to allow more people to join in during the festive season.

After your amazing efforts last year, we are again setting the challenge of 54 miles. As a Local Mind, we cover a boundary of roughly 54 miles around the South East and central Essex area. We thought this distance was a great way to help represent our mission!

We are asking you to pledge to complete your miles during December, whether it's by running, skipping, walking, hopping, swimming, or in a more unique way. You can do it solo and rack up the miles, or join friends, family, or colleagues to make it a team challenge. You could even join in as a school!

This years event will run from the 1st December until the 24th December, allowing you to take part in any place, at any time during that span - it's completely up to you.

MOST IMPORTANTLY - Just because it's virtual, doesn't mean you cant put on your Elfie Outfit! We've loved keeping the spirit of our traditional Mental Elf event going, so get ready to dig out those Christmas outfits again. Help spread some Christmas joy and share your elfie selfies whilst you're out! (Don't worry, you can also just wear normal activewear during your runs!)

Ready to get started?

How To Take Part:

1. Make your pledge! From the 1 November you can visit our online shop HERE to make your Mental Elf Pledge with an £10 donation (and get access to our digital fundraising pack and Mental Elf bonuses). You can also simply set up your own JustGiving Page via this page and start your fundraising right away. Don't forget to also sign up to our Mental Elf newsletter for important updates!

2. Decide how you want to take on the 54 miles - do it as a solo challenge or team up with your school, work colleagues, or friends and family. You don't need to cover any particular route and don't have to do it in any given time frame. Don't fancy this distance? Try 5.4 miles or set your own distance challenge for December.

3. Make sure to set up your own fundraising page on Just Giving and then share your page with your friends and family on social media - remember to show your Elfie Selfies and celebrate your milestones!

4. Complete your miles! Tell everyone about it by posting a video or photo of you, tagging us in social media, you can find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Any queries? Please get in touch with Keeley our Fundraising Officer via fundraising@secemind.org.uk

We are an independent local mental health charity. SECE Mind are affiliated with National Mind but do not receive any funding from them or the government for our local services and rely entirely on fundraising and donations in order to keep them running. Our charity provides mental health services and training across Southend-on Sea, Castlepoint, Chelmsford, Rochford, and South Woodham Ferrers. Our mission is to help anyone in our community in need of mental health support.

1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health issue. During these difficult and unprecedented times, taking care of mental health has become even more of a priority. Together we can help raise awareness and funds to continue and improve our work and reach more people in need in our community. Every penny you raise helps to make a difference, thank you.