Hi, my name is Sam, I am the Chair of Bedfordshire Open Door and, along with lots of other members of the team, I'm taking on a personal challenge as part of our 30th anniversary fundraiser.

With my day job, my volunteer responsibilities at BOD, as well as two teenage daughters, I have a lot on my plate! I do my best to manage my stress levels and look after my mental health - but one habit I have never managed to keep is meditation. I'm hoping that by taking on a 30 day meditation challenge I will get better at being still and quiet and letting my brain switch off for a few minutes each day - and that, by being consistent, I will be able to start noticing some benefits.

I am going to try a mixture of guided meditations, walking meditations and just being still (probably the hardest!), to see which work best for me. And I'm not expecting it to be easy!

If you would like to make a donation to help spur me on, then I would be very grateful. Or maybe you would like to join me for 30 days and get sponsored to do a challenge of your own?

I joined the board at BOD two years ago as the parent of a child who had accessed the counselling service and had experienced, first hand, what an incredible organisation BOD is. I can personally guarantee that every penny of the money raised will go directly to the young people that need it. We are determined to keep our waiting list open, so that no young person (or their family) has to wait for the mental health support they need.

Thank you for your support :-)