The St Helena Community spirit stretched across oceans today as participants took part in the Big4 Walk, a multi Saint driven community event raising funds for Mental Health awareness and supporting the newly established Island Minds Foundation.
From Kinghurst to the dampen streets of Stanley in the Falkland Islands, the event demonstrated a powerful show of strength for mental health support, bringing together Saints and supporters in St Helena, Ascension Island, the Falkland Islands, and in Swindon United Kingdom where there is a large part of the St Helena Community resides.
The logistics of the event spanned miles apart, proving that distance is no barrier to supporting the cause.
At the Coatewater Country Park in Swindon UK this served as the staging point for the UK leg of the journey. Under a clear spring sunny day, the St Helena Association registered thirty-one walkers and welcomed supporters making the most of the fantastic weather.
On St Helena, the energy was even more pronounced as the team at the Kingshurst Community Centre stayed busy registering two hundred and fifty-four participants. The walking routes on St Helena were designed to be inclusive for all fitness levels, with one hundred ten people tackling the long walk, sixty-six choosing the medium route, and seventy-eight completing the short walk. Supporters at Kinghurst enjoyed an amazing atmosphere featuring various stalls, hot food, and live entertainment.
The heat did not deter those on Ascension Island, where fifty eight participants gathered at the Volcano Club. Organiser Kimberley Peters expressed her delight at the outcome as walkers returned to a spread of traditional Saint treats, including a selection of cakes which included the much loved JT’s and Swiss Roll and a hot pot of St Helena Pilau.
Meanwhile, participants in Stanley on the Falkland Islands woke up to pouring rain, but the weather failed to dampen their plans . A total of sixty-four walkers arrived at Stanley’s town Hall to register.
In a display of dedication, a group of Saints working for Sodexo made the long journey from Mount Pleasant to Stanley just to take part. The route took them along Ross Road West towards Felton Stream before they returned to the Infant and Junior School to warm up with hot soup and snacks.
All funds raised from the Big4 Walk will be donated directly to the Island Minds Foundation. As a newly registered charity, the foundation focuses on helping anyone affected by mental health challenges by providing access to therapy and counselling while working to reduce stigma within the community.
While the final fundraising totals will be shared in the coming days, anyone wishing to contribute can still do so via the GoFundMe page organised by the St Helena Association on behalf of Island minds Foundation. https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-big-4-fundraising-walks
A massive thank you to everyone who made an effort to support or take part in the Big4walk Your efforts will help make an important difference to our St Helena Community.
