22 Apr Schoolgirls Stampede for Mid and North East Essex Mind
Four schoolgirls from Colchester have signed-up to run this year’s 10K Stampede at Colchester Zoo to help bust exam stress and raise funds for Mid and North East Essex Mind.
Scarlett Johnston, Lottie Boulter, Sophia Nock and Fleur Langmead, are all aged 16 and studying for their GCSEs at The Stanway School. The schoolgirls are keen to beat stress by training for the 10K run, the longest distance any of them have undertaken.
Scarlett Johnston says: “So many young people struggle with their mental health and it’s difficult to find the right support. We believe that public services don’t always have the right resources to provide enough help for young people, which often leaves them distressed, until they reach a point of crisis. People shouldn’t have to reach this level of desperation, nobody should be alone with their struggles, that’s why we’re determined to raise as much money as possible for Mid and North East Essex Mind.”
The schoolgirls aim to raise £700 for the Stampede, which takes place on Sunday 28th April. The annual event offers fundraisers the chance to run, jog or walk past the elephants, giraffes and zebras at Colchester Zoo. The run also winds around the nearby villages and countryside before finishing back at the zoo.
Ginny Idehen, CEO, Mid and North East Essex Mind, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the response from fundraisers to this year’s Stampede. Everyone in the community has come out to support this fun event and we’re really pleased to see four young students, using their training runs to help reduce stress.”
She continued: “Exercise is brilliant for our general fitness, but it also helps us release happy hormones, which is great for our mental health.”
Mid and North East Essex Mind offers a wide range of mental health services. The charity provides group and one-to-one counselling, support for those recovering from addiction or a mental health issue, plus practical help to overcome stress, anxiety and depression. The organisation also offers a crisis café for urgent mental health care.
To take part in the Stampede, runners need to pay just £17. Once they’ve raised £50, they will receive a free wildlife-themed Mid and North East Essex Mind runners’ vest. Each participant will also receive a commemorative medal, chip timing, free event photos and an invite to a post-run drinks reception. After the event, runners can enjoy a free day out at Colchester Zoo; friends and family can benefit from discounted entry.
The Stampede also supports Colchester Zoo’s ‘Action for the Wild’ charity. The charity helps to fund conservation projects across the world and has set-up the 6,000-hectare UmPhafa private nature reserve in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Colchester Zoo has been listed in the top two zoos in the UK and voted as 11th best zoo in the world as part of the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Attractions.
To sign up to the Stampede on behalf of Mid and North East Essex Mind, visit https://mnessexmind.org/get-involved/fundraise. To donate to the schoolgirls’ Stampede fund, visit www.gofundme.com/f/sophia-and-scarletts-mind-10k.
