A 1712km day of exercise brings £2500 for brilliant mental health charity

By Good News Post

Big-hearted Rugby Club members and supporters have netted over £2,500 for the fast-growing Somerset mental health support charity In Charley’s Memory.

Those who took part ran, cycled and walked a combined distance of 1,712 kilometres in one day, easily exceeding the 1,000km target.

Burnham Rugby Club in Burnham launched the event with the football club also contributing 50km to the total while Burnham-On-Sea Harriers running club also added 350km.

Paul Shepherd and a team of PE teachers from Highbridge’s The King Alfred School Academy contributed 40km between them. Among them was James Cannard who ran an entire marathon.

Chris Jones and his daughters also won the prize for best family combined total of 100km.

In Charley’s Memory provides counselling and mental health support to young people across the area.

Jo Clement, whose son was the late Charley Marks who inspired the charity’s formation, told burnham-on-sea.com: “I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has taken the time to raise money for In Charley’s Memory.

“I’m totally overwhelmed with how much has been raised and how many people took time out of their day to run/walk to meet the 1000 km total.

“The money raised will not only help so many young people, but we also now help over 26’s who also struggle with their poor mental health. At the moment we currently counsel almost 100 people each week and I’m very proud of the legacy that my charley boy has left. Again a big thanks and especially to Tim who set up this challenge.”

Access the fundraising page by clicking here.

Pictured: Action from a Burnham Rugby Club last year (photo Mo Hunt)

There was good news for mental health nationally yesterday as Love Island’s Dr Alex was announced by Boris Johnson as the government’s mental health youth ambassador.

In Children’s Mental Health Week, it was announced that the doctor and and reality star will work closely with government to improve the education and support for young people across schools, colleges and universities.

As well as his job fighting coronavirus on the frontline, Dr Alex has been a passionate online campaigner for issues surrounding young people’s wellbeing, after battling with his own mental health and tragically losing his younger brother to suicide last summer.

In his new role, Dr Alex will also sit on the new mental health in education action group, chaired by children’s minister Vicky Ford and universities minister Michelle Donelan.