NICHE FEATURE
Fancy a
trip to the
moon? Mental health charity Lamp is on its way to the moon as part of this year’s 5k challenge theme WORDS BY KERRY SMITH
I
t’s Mental Health Awareness week in May and each year, mental health charity Lamp organises a county-wide, inclusive challenge inviting people to join them in travelling 5k by walking, running, cycling, skating, swimming, or using a wheelchair. A ‘Trip to the Moon’ will take place this year from May 9 to May 15 for Mental Health Awareness Week. Lamp is encouraging people to take part in the 5k fundraising campaign to collectively reach 384,400km, the distance from Earth to the moon. Participants can take on any activity they like including swimming, rowing, walking the dog, competing in a triathlon, or even completing an activity in fancy dress during Mental Health Awareness Week. Lamp went ‘Around the World’ with last year’s inaugural theme raising over £8,000 to support the charity’s service users and carers with mental health advocacy throughout Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. More than 1,500 people joined in from as far as India last year thanks to the Strava app, meaning everyone’s five kilometres combined equalled more than double the circumference of the entire world. The success of the campaign won Lamp the Community Event of the Year Award in the 2021 Leicestershire Community Champions Awards. Richard Kotulecki, Lamp’s CEO said: “We’re very excited
about organising our 5k Trip to the Moon challenge for Mental Health Awareness Week. We are aiming to bring the community together again in a creative way… “We firmly believe in the benefits of physical activity which serve as a shield against the harmful effects of the pandemic on our mental health and wellbeing and this is why we set up the Lamp 5k campaign. With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have seen a huge surge in demand for mental health advice and support.” This year’s 5k fundraiser ties in with this year’s theme for Mental Health Awareness Week which is loneliness. The theme has been set by the Mental Health Foundation, which found that loneliness has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. A
WE’RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT ORGANISING OUR 5K TRIP TO THE MOON CHALLENGE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK
study by the Foundation revealed that loneliness has been an important factor contributing to higher levels of distress, resulting from people’s sense of isolation and reduced ability to connect with others. Hinckley & Rugby Building Society are supporting the campaign for the second year. Chief Executive Colin Fyfe said: “The Covid-19 pandemic threw light on the plight of those people who suffer from loneliness and this initiative offers a way for people to release endorphins through exercise and mixing with friends and family, as well as supporting a local and independent charity which is committed to helping people from Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to navigate the complex mental health maze.” To take part in the Trip to the Moon 5k challenge, go to lampadvocacy.co.uk/lamp5k and download your fundraising pack. You can sponsor Lamp by emailing info@lampdirect.org.uk.
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