Hello!  My name is Karen Whelan and I’m taking part in Trek Ireland in aid of Oxfordshire Mind from 26^th – 30^th June 2009. 

I am so excited about this adventure and I have pledged to raise a minimum of £1,250 to take part in the Trek . I know I will have to do lots of training to make sure I am fit for the event, but what a great motivator to get going!  I will also make a personal contribution to Mind of £200 to help cover my registration, flights, accommodation and food.  I will be away for 5 days which will include three long days trekking around the Ring of Kerry.  Here’s the itinerary…

Day 1 – We depart from London and fly to Cork.  We will be met on arrival to transfer to Glenbeigh, a small town on the Coast of Kerry surrounded by Coomasaharn horse-shoe Mountains to the south, Seefin, and Curra to the east and west and Slievemish to the North for an evening meal and the first taste of the real Ireland!  Day 2 - 11 Miles – An acclimatising walk leads along a quiet lane high above the beautifulCaraghLake.  It descends down to Blackstone’s Bridge then through the woods to Glencar, a tiny settlement nestled in the middle of the peninsula besides the McGillycuddy’s Reeks meaning ‘The Black Stacks’, a mountain range stretching over 12 miles that includes the highest mountain in Ireland, Caeeantuohill at 1,039 metres.  Before walking to Lough Acoose. Day 3 – 13 Miles – We set off after a good hearty breakfast and walk past Lough Acoose, the starting point for a memorable circuit of Ireland’s highest mountain, Carrauntuohill.  Continue past the Lough and isolated farms to walk up through the Reeks on the old lack road and into the isolatedBridiaValley.  Climb out of the valley via a second pass through wild and rugged hills descending into theBlackValley directly underneath ’s highest mountains.  Day 4 – 14 Miles – Our final day trekking leads out of theBlackValley into theKillarneyNational Park.  We will walk past the Upper Lake of Killarney, a site of one of Ireland’s unusual flora, the Strawberry Tree and continue to Lord Brandon’s Cottage into theDerrycunnihyForest; an ancient oak woodland this is currently fighting a battle with the Rhododendron that is threatening to choke out the indigenous flora!  Our final part of the route then joins up withGalway’s Bridge, where we follow the old Kenmare Road past Muckross House to Killarney. Day 5 – We have free time to relax and explore Killarney. 

I’m told the trek won’t be easy and I will certainly earn my sponsorship!  It sounds as if we will see some magnificent sights and have great fun along the way!  Not to mention raising funds for such a worth while cause which is so close to my heart.  I’m glad to learn that Killarney town is has many souvenir shops, craft galleries, lively pubs and restaurants, St Mary’s Cathedral, the Museum of Irish Transport and the Franciscan Friary located on grassy Fair Hill as well as Ross Castle which we can take in on the last day to unwind and celebrate our achievement!

INFORMATION ABOUT OXFORDSHIRE MIND  Oxfordshire Mind currently provides:

A network of fifteen well used, effective Community Resource Projects including

women-only services, a service for black and minority ethnic men, a group for young people,

and evening and weekend services that can be accessed by people who work during the

day.  Out projects are currently based in Abingdon, Banbury, Bicester,Carterton, Chipping

Norton, Didcot, Henley, Kidlington, Oxford, Thame, Wallingford, Wantage and Witney.

Our central office offers a help and information service on all mental health

issues and local resources.  Tel: 01865 511702.  We stock a large array of booklets on

medication, legal rights, mental health and illness.

Understanding leaflets available: Anxiety Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism in Children, Bereavement, Caring, Childhood Distress, Dementia, Depression, Dual Diagnosis, Eating Distress, Gender Dysphoria, Learning Disabilities, Manic Depression, Mental Illness, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Paranoia, Personality Disorder, Phobias, Post Natal Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress, Premenstrual Syndrome, Schizophrenia, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-Harm, Talking Treatments, The Psychological Effects of Street Drugs.  We also stock a large array of ‘How To’ leaflets such as How to: Cope with Relationship Breakdowns, Cope as a Carer, Survive Student Life, Assert Yourself, Cope with Panic Attacks, Help someone who is Suicidal, Recognise the early signs of Mental Illness, Deal with Anger, Survive Family Life, Recover after a Breakdown, Cope with Sleep Problems, Deal with Bullying at Work etc.

Six supported housing projects providing permanent accommodation for over sixty

people with long-term mental health problems.

Two Benefits Advice Workers for people all over Oxfordshire with mental illness.

A monthly Carers’ Support Group where relatives, friends and carers can discuss

freely and in confidence the problems that arise from looking after someone with mental

illness.

A programme of Therapeutic Groups using techniques based on cognitive behavioural therapy to teach strategies for Coping with Anxiety, CBT Skills, Coping with Stress and Challenging Depression.

An information service on all mental health issues and local resources.  Tel:  01865 247788.

A Rural Transport Service to enable people living with physical and mental health problems

to attend our day centres. 

A 350 page Mind Guide to mental health services in Oxfordshire.

A website of mental health services in Oxfordshire. www.omhi.org.uk

OXFORDSHIRE MIND NEEDS FUND TO DEVELOP VARIOUS AREAS OF ITS WORK.  YOUR DONATION / SUPPORT WILL PLAY AN ESSENTIAL PART IN THIS AS IT WILL HELP US:

Develop our current  services – we currently support hundreds of people living with mental health problems in Oxfordshire every day.  People use our services for many reasons; some people may be experiencing depression or post-natal depression, other may be trying to deal with the loss of a loved one or may be recovering from a breakdown.  From our statistics we are aware that more needs to be done to extend our services so that every town in Oxfordshire has an evening service for working people.  We also want to develop more services to help young adults in the county.

Raise awareness about mental health issues. 

Produce publicity materials.  Many people are still not aware of the services we have to offer.

Develop our Groups Work Programme  - The groups offer opportunities to learn coping skills and help people take more control of their lives.  We are currently running groups on Coping with Anxiety, CBT Skills, Coping Silth Stress and Challenging Depression.

Train staff to run Cognitive Therapy Behavioural Workshops - We would like to

expand our current therapeutic groups so they are accessible to more people; including

working people and people who live in rural areas.  To train our staff in this field

costs Oxfordshire Mind £600.00 per person (this is a special rate agreed with the Trust). 

There is a growing need for these courses and we would like to be able to train 3-4 staff

on this course over the next year.

Access to a range of therapies and creative activities for people with mental health problems living on benefits - It is well known that a range of therapies and creative activities can help people with mental health problems improve the quality of their lives. Medication is one thing that can help, but access to Massage, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Yoga, Head Massage, Chi Gong, Meditation, Dance, Music, Creative Arts etc. can greatly improve people’s mental well being. These activities are extremely popular and have attracted new people who need our support who may not otherwise use our services. 

Volunteer training – Training volunteers is costly, but many volunteers go on to work in

mental health which is good for those who live in our community.

Fund our rural transport service - We have a network of fifteen day centres throughout the county.  To run this service costs approximately £15,000 per annum (including fuel, servicing, repairs, insurance, volunteer expenses etc). 

The Mind Guide to Mental Health Services in Oxfordshire - The Guide is often described as the mental health bible.  It takes many hours of preparation and approximately £10,000 to print.  It is distributed to all G.P.’s, mental health professionals and the general public. 

Christmas Activities - Oxfordshire Mind recognises that Christmas can be a distressing time for some people, especially those who feel isolated and alone.  Many of our projects run special events in the run-up to Christmas, and hold special ‘Post-Christmas Chill-out Days’ on 27^th December. Activities include Festive Art Groups, lunches, sweet-making, music and singing, coping with Christmas workshops, bowling trips etc.

Refurbishment of Mind projects – We need funds to refurbish and redecorate the centres, undertake structural work to support the development of community kitchens, renew key electrical appliances in the kitchens (e.g. cookers, dishwashers and fridge/freezers), develop and equip community ICT hubs providing internet access and access to learning opportunities, purchase comfortable chairs for group work and training activities, new tables and chairs for the proposed community cafés, information and display racks and develop some new signage for the centres.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Oxfordshire Mind gets your money faster and, if you’re a taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Thank you for taking the time to read about Oxfordshire Mind and thank you soooooooo much for your support.  Karen