Supporters gathered recently to wave off Darlington Mind trustee Martin as he began his ambitious ‘100 Yorkshire Landmarks Challenge’: a fundraising journey visiting 100 well-known sites across Yorkshire on his Vespa scooter.
The challenge aims to raise funds and awareness for Darlington Mind, the local independent Mind charity providing mental health services through teams in Darlington, Hambleton and Richmondshire. As part of the national Mind network, the organisation delivers community-based support tailored to local need, helping people access practical help, advice and recovery-focused services close to home.
Martin is undertaking the challenge to highlight the importance of accessible mental health support and to help raise funds that will strengthen and expand services across the region.
Speaking ahead of his journey, Martin said: “We all know friends and relatives who sometimes need a bit of support with their mental health, so I want to raise awareness of the superb services that our local Minds can offer and, at the same time, raise some money to expand those services and help support a few more people.
“I am sure that the fresh air on my scooter will benefit my own mental health, and if it enables a few more people to see a brighter future, it will be a true win-win!”
Marcus Hawthorn, strategic development manager at Darlington Mind, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Martin for taking on this fantastic challenge in support of local mental health services. As a local Mind, we are committed to supporting people within our communities, and fundraising efforts like this help us reach more people who may need support from our essential services.”
Travelling across towns, countryside and famous Yorkshire landmarks, Martin’s challenge has already attracted huge support from local residents and the wider community.
People wishing to support Martin’s fundraising efforts can donate via his JustGiving page: https://justgiving.com/page/martins-100landmarkchallenge
To find out more about Darlington Mind’s services and support, see their website: https://www.darlingtonmind.com/
