<p>UPDATE: MISSION COMPLETE. READ MORE BELOW.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>If you are reading this, there's a 1 in 4 chance that if you have not already, you will experience some kind of mental health issue within your lifetime, and it's virtually impossible that you don't know someone who has.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>http://www.mind.org.uk/thisismind&nbsp; &lt;--- watch this when you get a sec.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Mind is an exceptional organisation dedicated to directly helping and advising those in mental distress, raising awareness of these issues generally, and not in the least, piloting a new and highly effective telephone-based counselling service which gets results far quicker than is traditionally available in this country on the NHS.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I know this because I have worked for them for half a year, and can personally vouch for the excellence of the people involved.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Thus, I've decided to cycle from Southampton to Brighton. Not for any specific reason besides the fact that I live in one and like the other. It's around 65 miles (approximately 100km for those who disapprove of imperial units), by a not especially scenic route.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The date is not 100% set yet, but subject to others wishing to join me, and the advance forecast predicting an absence of snow, driving rain and velociraptors, I should set off at some point on Saturday Nov 19th 2011.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>---</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I successfully completed this mission on Saturday 19/11/11, setting off around 1:30pm from the centre of Southampton and eventually arriving on the Brighton coastline some 9 hours later, having briefly stopped at a pub in Chichester, mainly to charge my phone.</p> <p>It was difficult, and the last 8 or so miles in particular were a complete nightmare, but I made it in the end, and stayed overnight in a hostel, having missed the last train home.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As of today, we're up to &pound;230, which is great. A few more and I've reached the (admittedly arbitrary) target I set.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Your contributions to furthering the efforts of the Solent Mind branch which covers the county of Hampshire in the South of England would be very welcome.</p> <p>---</p> <p>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving &ndash; they&rsquo;ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they&rsquo;ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it&rsquo;s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p> <p>Help us to be more hardcore.</p>