Here we go... 6 months on from the #StepUpChallenge, a bigger team of #TalkingCherries are coming together to complete a minimum target of not just 500kms for #TheJune500 but 1000km to support Dorset's mental health. 

The challenge starts on 1st June and runs for 30 days until 30th June - that's 33.33km per day! We think we will smash it but we need your help to spur us on.

Our target is to have received £1 for every 1km we do. Thanks for your support last time as we look to move (swim/walk/run etc) throughout June. 

Talking Cherries is a fan led Mental Health initiative aiming to create a no pressure non judgemental relaxed environment to talk Cherries and #tacklethesilence around #mentalhealth. 

This is the second of many initiatives we hope to undertake together as fans and contribute to those who offer mental health services that support us throughout our community if and when we need it. 

At one or two points throughout the month you are welcome to join us on one of our #WalkandTalk get togethers. We have already undertaken a couple of these so please keep an eye on our social media (details below) and you can join us for a couple of kms if you like. 

The £1385 you helped us raise in November/December has already helped the development of the LigthOn campaign which was recently launched and this second effort will continue to support the evolution of that initiative locally... 

Not only that, exercise is proven to positively impact wellbeing and after an extended period of Lockdown etc, a few of us need the focus to remove a couple of pounds. 

It is even more important than ever to connect with other people and get active where we can. Even if you can’t always do it in person we can do it together to help reach our objectives. Isn’t that what support is?

To aid in this please follow our journey on our own social media platforms:

The hashtags we will be using and which you can follow are:

#TheJune500 / #talkingcherries/ #tacklethesilence / #afcb / #mentalhealth 

We hope you’ll help sponsor us as we look to continue to be part of the conversation and help #tacklethesilence 

Dorset Mind continues to be an amazing local charity providing support in Dorset for adults and young people each year. Their range of services includes: befriending, counselling, mentoring and support groups. 

They help people to identify and develop coping skills and importantly, build resilience. 

The charity also delivers education/training programmes for schools and workplaces. They also offer volunteer roles across Dorset. 

Mental health problems can affect anyone - they do not discriminate. Around 1 in 4 people will suffer from a form of diagnosable mental health problem during their lifetime. 

The most common forms of mental health problems are anxiety stress and depression, which have been exaggerated during the pandemic.

As we slowly emerge from lockdown, focusing on wellbeing is even more important. Never have their services been needed more!

THANK YOU... WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT!