We raised £2,012 walking 315,000 steps for mental health
On 29th October our staff came together to smash the silence around suicide. We partnered up with mental health charity CALM (Campaign against living miserably) to fundraise for the life-saving work CALM and their essential services do every single day during their Lost Hours Walk event.
The Lost Hours Walk is made up of 3,000 walkers around the UK, all with their own reasons for walking. From dealing with their own struggles to bereavement, every reason is unique. By uniting as the clocks go back, we raised vital awareness to tackle the stigma surrounding mental wellbeing.
Our walks were held in Preston and Wolverhampton at our joint venture with Enzen Global, Trinity. 30 members of staff took part, walking a total of 315,000 steps! We managed to raise a total of £1,012 from our friends, family and staff, and Sapphire Utility Solutions donated £1,000 to make the total £2,012 raised.
14 staff members based at our head office in Bamber Bridge walked to the Larches House, our new head office. A five mile walk which took two hours. The walk was not easy and we did narrowly miss some heavy rain, however all who took part felt a real sense of achievement reaching the end of the walk which finished at our soon to be new head office – Larches House in Preston.
10 staff members took on the walk in Wolverhampton, walking five miles along the canal away from the city. The walk was picturesque yet a little chilly along the cycle path, but all staff powered through and managed to miss the rain too which was announced as a yellow weather warning just one day prior.
On average, 125 people take their own lives every week in the UK. Only one third of people who die by suicide have been in contact with specialist mental health services in the year before their death. We hope by raising awareness of the charity and helping to fund the services which they provide to people in crisis, that we can lower that number.
CALM is a leading movement against suicide, existing to offer lifesaving services, provoking conversation, and bringing people together to reject living miserably. From advice on their website to free confidential chats on their helpline with staff, online or over the phone. They work every single day, no matter what.