300K challenge for Chasing the Stigma

During the month of May, Ellie Hopper and her two friends Lydia Cashmore and Katy Williams pledged to run 100k each to raise money for Chasing the Stigma.

All done while balancing work, university studies and placements, and despite Katy injuring her knee in the second week of the challenge, the trio not only hit but exceeded their distance target as well, with Lydia running 115.19km, Katy 70.64km and Ellie 114.99km – an impressive total of 300.82km!

We’re tired just thinking about it!

It wasn’t only their distance targets that the trio smashed either. After setting an initial fundraising target of £300, the team went on to more than double it and raise £630, with Lydia managing the Facebook fundraiser page and posting about the challenge every single day of the month.

Speaking of the challenge, Ellie said: “It was definitely tough at times, but we had no doubt that we would get there in the end with all of the amazing support and donations we received from family, friends old and new, and even a few anonymous donations. Our love for running has grown as well as our passion for mental health awareness!

“Myself and my housemate are a student nurse and a student paramedic, and the number of mental health admissions and 999 calls we have experienced, and will continue to, are shocking and disheartening.

“I’ve spoken about the Hub of Hope to many family, friends, patients and colleagues, who all think what an incredible idea it is and wish they had known about it sooner. So, all I can say is thank you so much for the work you and your team are doing, it’s truly incredible!”

Well, Ellie, Lydia and Katy, we just want to say a big THANK YOU to you for YOUR work.

Jake Mills, Chasing the Stigma founder and CEO, said: “Fundraising activities like this are so important to our charity, as we rely on public donations and the money that we receive helps us to keep the Hub of Hope free to use and free for services to register. In that sense, every penny we receive has the power to save a life.

“What’s even more important is the work Ellie and her housemate are doing, working on the front line and helping people in crisis. We are so proud that they find the Hub of Hope to be a useful resource and incredibly grateful that they are spreading the word.”

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