On World Mental Health Day last Friday I took part in a Cycle Challenge at Prospect Park Hospital. World Mental Health Day focuses attention on raising awareness of a particular aspect of mental illness. This year schizophrenia was under the spotlight, with Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BHFT) staff and patients taking part in the Cycle for Wellbeing Challenge at the Prospect Park Hospital gym. The participants set themselves the challenge of cycling 75 miles between them in four hours to raise money for Sport in Mind - an organisation that works in partnership with the BHFT to provide weekly sport and physical sessions across Berkshire for those experiencing mental health problems. These activities are also provided for inpatients at Prospect Park Hospital, and the funds raised will provide additional sessions, such as Tai Chi and Yoga. I joined Dr Justin Wilson, Medical Director for the BHFT, and Neil Harris, founder of Sport in Mind to take part in the challenge. Staff and patients at the hospital all helped to contribute to the eventual total of 200 miles. Neil Harris explained that Sport in Mind is passionate about raising awareness of mental health issues and the positive impact physical activity has on our wellbeing. As a small Reading charity it is reliant on the generosity of our local community to enable its work to continue and they are all very pleased that I and Berkshire Healthcare staff are supporting the charity to help raise money to support local people experiencing mental health problems. It was great to take part in the Cycle for Wellbeing challenge and to help Sport in Mind raise awareness of mental illness. Those suffering with mental health problems across Berkshire benefit greatly from the physical activity and sporting sessions provided by Sport in Mind. The activities serve to improve peoples physical wellbeing, whilst also enabling them to take part in something fun and stimulating. The level of enthusiasm for the challenge was fantastic and Im impressed that patients and staff were able to surpass the original aim of cycling 75 miles, whilst raising over £300 for a great cause. I would encourage people to donate to Sport in Mind and make a contribution towards helping people with mental health problems. Anybody wishing to make a donation to Sport in Mind can do so by visiting: https://justgiving/bhft2014/
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 06:24:25 +0000
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