Mental Health Charities Unite for £50,000 Summer Solstice Walking Challenge
"You can achieve anything if you have the right support around you." This powerful message drives a major fundraising initiative as twelve mental health charities across Lancashire join forces for an ambitious dawn-to-dusk walking challenge. The Summer Solstice Walking Challenge, now in its fifth year, aims to raise at least £50,000 for vital mental health services and wraparound care throughout the county.
From Humble Beginnings to County-Wide Impact
The initiative was first conceived in 2022 by Andrea Pollard, now fundraising lead at Lancashire Mind. At the time, Andrea was working for Burnley Leisure and Culture and organized a 17-hour walk around an athletics track on the longest day of the year, raising £1,500 for Lancashire Mind. "My goal was to create a space for people to come together, have meaningful conversations, and guide them to the help they needed," Andrea explained.
Reflecting on her personal journey, Andrea shared: "Having been affected by suicide twice and on the 10th anniversary of my own mental health struggles, I felt it was time to give back. Ten years earlier, I had been off work for three months due to stress and anxiety. In 2012, admitting this and discussing it with friends and family was still very difficult."
Expanding Reach and Impact
Fast forward to 2026, and what began as a single charity event has blossomed into a major collaborative effort. This year, twelve charities will participate in two separate walking challenges—one in Blackburn and one in Burnley—marking the most ambitious iteration of the event to date.
"By coming together to work in collaboration we have a stronger voice, spreading the message that you can achieve anything if you have the right support around you," Andrea emphasized. "The ambition is to raise at least £50,000 for services across the county, supporting people with their mental health and further wraparound care."
The growth has been remarkable:
- 2022: £1,500 raised for Lancashire Mind
- 2023: Similar amount raised for multiple local charities
- 2024: Over £4,000 raised for two charities
- 2025: Nearly £14,000 raised between three charities
Personal Motivation and Community Impact
Andrea's commitment stems from both professional dedication and personal experience. "My primary motivation was to help people and highlight mental health issues in Burnley," she said. "I wanted to advocate for openness on the subject and encourage people to share, open-up, and seek help if needed."
The event's impact extends beyond fundraising. "I know last year's event saved a life by helping someone get the assistance they desperately needed," Andrea revealed. "As I've said each year, if we can help even one person, the effort is worth it."
Now working directly with Lancashire Mind, Andrea sees firsthand how these events sustain life-changing services. "The impact of this event on current projects and services is immense," she noted, highlighting projects like "Together after loss" in Blackburn with Darwen that supports families bereaved through baby loss.
2026 Challenge Details
This year's participating charities include:
- Carefit CIC
- Child Action North West
- East Lancashire Down's Syndrome Association
- East Lancashire Hospice
- Galloways
- HAPPA
- Healthier Heroes
- Lancashire Mind
- Lancashire Women
- Nightsafe
- Shine Coaching
- Strength in Struggles
The events will take place at two locations:
- Thursday, June 18: 4:37 AM (sunrise) at Barden Athletics Track, New Hall Street, Burnley, BB10 1JH
- Monday, June 22: 4:35 AM at Witton Park athletics track, Preston Old Road, Blackburn, BB2 2PT
"There is so much good work happening across Lancashire, we want to shout about it all to make sure people can get the help they need," Andrea concluded. "At Lancashire Mind, we know that meaningful change often starts with a single idea and a single step."
