Over recent years barriers are starting to break and stigma is starting to dissolve around mental health. We've come so far in starting to acknowledge mental health but with mental health issues affecting 1 in 4 of us and pressure building on GPs and the NHS mental health teams in the UK there is a requirement for additional services to be available for helping to cope with this demand.
In Hampshire, UK a very talented, passionate and caring lady, a sculptor by trade, has recognised and acted on this demand by starting a charity called hArt (Hampshire Art for Recreation and Therapy). Annie has built hArt over the last couple of years into a success story and helps a vast array of people with mental health needs through creative therapy.
hArt have visited schools, worked with dementia patients, provided art therapy for carers and run many projects to match local needs.
After seeing the benefits of the work hArt are providing my daughter and I are driven to help raise funds for their wonderful projects and to support the work the team there so successfully provide to people affected by mental health.
Signing up to the Colour Run this year in Brighton is an empowering step for me, a first step towards getting my fitness back, something which over recent years has taken a back seat due to parenting and work commitments. The Colour Run represents me taking time for myself to work towards and enjoy something that keeps my own mental health positive. My 9 year old daughter has enjoyed seeing me prepare for this and has decided to join in! So we are running together for hArt.
I'm looking forward to experiencing lots of colour on the day! And hope you will be able to sponsor me to help bring colour to others through hArt's wonderful work for people that may be in darker places.
Thank you for reading and hopefully donating, every penny counts!
Sarah
Xxx