MindSpace Rutland founder launches fundraiser
He hopes to raise £5,000 at this year's Stamford Santa Fun Run
The founder of mental health charity 'MindSpace Rutland' has launched a sponsorship appeal ahead of Stamford's Santa Fun Run.
In his moving personal appeal, MindSpace Vice Chair, Dr Dan Petrie has written about his wife’s struggles with mental health.
“Everyone has had a tough few years and there is something about that which has brought us all together, however we all still have our unique, personal stories as to why it’s been hard for each of us.
“My wife Cass has had an exceptionally tough time. Already struggling with mental illness, everything Covid has done around isolating people and taking away support networks has made this an incredibly tough season resulting in two long spells in hospital away from us and several occasions when the illness and the distress it causes nearly meant we lost Cassie.
“I want Cassie to be there when we do things as a family and not missing as she was in this photo, but that applies to every family where people are absent due to their own struggles with mental health. That is one of the big aims of MindSpace, connection and increasing knowledge and understanding so that supporting one another increasingly becomes the way we do things around here.
“We are hopeful that things are beginning to turn around, but each day is another step on the journey and MindSpace is a part of that – community is the answer that is everything MindSpace encourages and supports through its culture and activities.”
In terms of Dan’s visions for the funds raised by his family and Team MindSpace in the upcoming Santa Fun Run, he explains:
“In 2022 we want to be able to open our premises every day for most of the day – and especially the evenings when people are struggling more – but as a small, new charity that is a big ask. We have volunteers and we always need more, but charities have core costs that have to be covered and I hope to raise the funds for those so the charity can get on and continue to support our community for all our neighbours, colleagues, friends and family to thrive through its activities.”
All of the Petrie family are planning to take part in the Santa Fun Run in Burghley Park in December: Dan and his wife Cassie, Gretel 9, Fergus 11 and Ezra 7, and even young Oran aged 2. They will be proudly part of Team MindSpace. Every donation will help.
Donations can be made on the Go Fund Me page.
There more information on MindSpace online.