Autumnal Running – Here’s A Spotlight on the Unsung Heroes of the Mintridge Foundation
Autumnal Running – Here’s A Spotlight on the Unsung Heroes of the Mintridge Foundation
Community Fundraising is the heartbeat of the Mintridge Foundation and the past few months have seen fundraisers across continents take to the roads to raise valuable funds for the Mintridge Foundation – a charity dedicated to supporting the mental fitness superpowers of young people through sport. Thank you to you all. From the Royal Parks of London to the pavements of the Canadian Province of Ontario, Team Mintridge runners have raised over £2,500 and we couldn’t be more grateful.
So, let’s meet some of our inspirational 2022 runners…
Meet Becky…
As Principal of Warboys Primary Academy, Becky has worked with Mintridge over the last year to deliver a successful sports mentoring programme for the children in her school. She is passionate about raising the aspirations of the children that she works with and providing them with opportunities to be mentored by inspiring individuals who have the power to change their lives.
Becky’s aim has been to raise enough money to ensure that the pupils of Warboys can experience the privilege of working with inspirational sporting role models within Mintridge and it has been a privilege to witness the efforts that she has gone to from the Vitality Big Half through to the Virtual London Marathon (with a PB too) and the Great Eastern Run. We repeat, the Vitality Big Half, the Virtual London and the Great Eastern Run too… all within 2 months! Wow! Oh wait, we nearly forgot, there was the Vitality Big Mile too with her daughter who may or may not have abandoned her in the sprint finish!
There is still plenty of time to donate to Becky’s cause and you can do so just here.
The mighty Becky and her fundraising hasn’t stopped there… we hope that lots of people will be able to join us on Wednesday 30th November for a Curry Night at Angel Spice near Peterborough to move closer to Becky’s ambitious target!
Meet Adam…
We don’t like mentioning the Covid – 19 words still, but we were determined that this wouldn’t ruin Adam’s fundraising efforts when he was unable to take on the London Landmarks Half Marathon earlier in the year for Team Mintridge. Adam, to continue to take on your first half without the friends that you hoped to do it with proves what an unsung hero you are for the Foundation. Thank you! We hope that this is the first of many half marathons for you!
There is still plenty of time to donate to Adam’s cause and you can do so just here.
Meet Dan, Ben, Alex, Emily & Abi…
Valuable funds raised by these extraordinary individuals will go towards the 28 Not Out Max Hunter Fund. This Fund changes the narrative around mental health and suicide, keeping our much-loved friend, Max’s fun, caring and sporting memory alive as well as changing perceptions and challenging stereotypes in the process. We will deliver mentoring programmes across the UK focussing on Max’s favourite sports and encouraging a new dialogue around how to look after our mental health just as we do our physical in sports clubs and agricultural colleges across the UK.
And, boy oh boy, have these four helped us over the last few months! Thank you.
Dan has been a huge presence in the formation of the fund and the Toronto Half Marathon is yet another 13.1 miles that have been added to his Maxy Bank. Dan, you are incredibly selfless and a huge advocate for showcasing your vulnerabilities to help others, thank you.
There is still plenty of time to donate to Dan’s cause and you can do so just here.
Ben, to take on a half marathon in memory of your Stamford teammate gives us such bittersweet joy as you help us to tackle the issue of something that is so close to your heart. You aimed high with your target and you smashed it! Congratulations on raising over £1,000 by running the Vitality Big Half.
“ Men’s mental health isn’t spoken enough about. There is a stigma in society today that men can’t talk. I for one have suffered with my own mental health badly at times, and one thing I have learnt is merely having someone to talk to helps more than it ever gets credit for. I want to do this for Max, along with the millions of men around the world and in the UK who feel they have no one to open up to and smash through that barrier that is men’s mental health and well-being to start a more open conversation and proactive response.”
There is still plenty of time to donate to Ben’s cause and you can do so just here.
Emily, Alex and Abi, nothing beats a family affair for a half marathon and the Royal Parks Half was just that for you all. Max Hunter was close friend to you and many that you knew and therefore, we are overwhelmed with the commitment that you took to the challenge! Thank you. We loved seeing how many cheerleaders you had out on the course – a dream team, that’s for sure!
There is still plenty of time to donate to Alex, Emily and Abi’s cause, and you can do just here.
Meet Jonathan…
Jonathan isn’t new to a fundraising challenge for the Mintridge Foundation and we are incredibly grateful that the Royal Parks was another half for your list! In beautiful weather, your time of 1 hour 53 minutes was brilliant and thank you very much for the fundraising that you have achieved to date! What’s next on your list?
Learn More About The Events
The Big Half is a vibrant, inclusive half marathon with an unmissable festival atmosphere! It features a stunning 13.1-mile course that sets off by Tower Bridge in central London and finishes at the famous Cutty Sark in Greenwich. The Vitality Big Mile is a free, family-friendly mass participation event that takes place on the same finishing stretch as The Big Half by the iconic Cutty Sark in Greenwich. It’s the perfect event for first-time runners or walkers, families with children and anyone looking to get more active – plus it’s accessible for wheelchair users. The Virtual London Marathon helps us to engage with supporters no matter where they are in the world! The Great Eastern Run route gives ensures that 100% of the route is based on roads / tarmac. The route takes runners through a section of the city centre, one of the unique aspects of the course. This is a route that we are looking forward to offering runners in 2023 too! The Toronto Half Marathon course is fast, downhill, and scenic. Starting at Yonge and Sheppard in North York and finishing at Exhibition Place, the most popular event during Toronto’s Race Weekend. The Royal Parks Half Marathon takes in some of the capital’s world famous landmarks on closed roads and within four of London’s eight Royal Parks - Hyde Park, The Green Park, St James's Park and Kensington Gardens. London Landmarks Half Marathon is a closed roads 13.1 mile route through Westminster and the city.
If you would like to fundraise for the Mintridge Foundation or the Max Hunter Fund in any of the events that we have mentioned above, please contact Alex Wallace who will be delighted to share more with you!
Here’s to an exciting 2023 where we can support more unsung heroes take to the start lines of different challenges for different reasons – what a special position for us all to be in as together, we can help reach more young people with inspirational role models. Mintridge Ambassadors have an incredible ability to ignite a fire within the young people they work with. Students see the Mintridge athletes on the telly. Through our mentoring programmes, these athletes will stand directly in front of them. This makes them feel special — someone important is giving up their time for them, someone relatable. Advice from them sinks in in a different way. Students really respect them and listen.
The Mintridge Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to enhancing life skills in young people through sport. We provide a support network for young people by harnessing the power of positive sporting role models. The Mintridge Foundation assists young people of all ages, abilities and physical capabilities to develop confidence and resilience, and creates awareness of the importance of mental and physical wellbeing through sport.
Our team of Ambassadors - Olympians, Paralympians and other professional sports stars from over 20 sports, both team and individual - work with young people in schools, clubs and academies across the UK. Starting with visits including assemblies, coaching clinics and classroom sessions tailored to each organisation’s requirements, our ambassadors can then provide one- on- one remote mentoring in a safeguarded environment, delivered via technology such as Fitswarm and Playwaze to build a lasting legacy for individuals.
The Mintridge Foundation’s successes demonstrate the incredible power of sport; from a mentee’s selection to represent Great Britain in their chosen field to enabling disabled children to find confidence and happiness just through participation. Understanding life after sport, we also support our Ambassadors in their transition from active sport to the next stage of their careers.
