My reasons for doing the trek are simple. I want to raise as much money and support as possible for Mind in a way that I knew would be very challenging for myself. I'm not a natural 'athlete' and I don't exercise as often as I should - If anything I avoid it. Stepping (literally - the wall has 1000's of them!) out of my comfort zone and facing my toughest physical challenge ever is, in some way, acknowledging the struggles and challenges that people affected by mental illness face on a daily basis.
Update 16th April 2009
Howdi campers!
After some AMAZING support from friends, family and fellow Twitterers I've decided to increase my target to £3500. Please keep sponsoring!!!!
I'm going to be tweeting my way across the Great Wall of China now - A warts and all account of the amazing challenge that lies ahead in just over 3 weeks!! Please, please, please sign up to follow me at www.twitter.com/staceyclarkin and spread the word to all your friends.
The support I have recieved so far has been utterly AMAZING. I've been touched by the personal stories that people, including those I've never met, have shared with me about their own experiences of mental illness. Its these words that keep me motivated to train, train, train and will keep me going along the wall... Please keep them coming!
I'd like to thank everyone who has supported and sponsored me so far, including a few celeb twitterers - the fabulous angel that is Beverley Knight (@beverleyknight) who is not only supporting me on twitter but has also donated a huge amount to my cause! Bill Bailey (@realbillbailey), and Ewen Macintosh (@ewenmacintosh) - the legend that is Keith from the Office!!!!
Bye for now,
Stace
xx
Hi All,
To those of you that know me (and to those of you that don't!), you are probably aware that I'm not the most 'active' of people, I'm not outdoorsy in anyway way, shape or form... so it may come as a surprise to hear that I've signed myself up to do a 10 day trek along the Great Wall of China in May 2009! It was originally going to be completed back in April 2008 but due to some badly timed poorly stints of my own I've had to rearrange the date 3 times. You'll be pleased to know that THIS TIME I'm definately going, poorly or not!!!
Its all in support of and to raise money for the national mental health charity, Mind (registered charity no. 219830).
People rarely think about mental health, or if they do it is often thought of in a "hush hush" way. It is usually only when it affects your life or the lives of loved ones that we start to realise the impact our mental health has on our everyday life. We take our mental health for granted, yet there is a very thin line between being mentally well and mentally unwell. Because of the "taboo" around this illness we are often afraid to talk about it until things get so bad for us to bear alone. By this time, we could be faced with a long and painful journey to recovery.
Mental illness is not particular in who it affects, it doesn't care about colour, race, age, gender or social class. It can affect any of us at any time, but sadly the much needed support is not often there due to under funding.
Recently my sister in law and my niece had to move into a mother and baby unit in order to receive the much needed support when diagnosed with severe post natal depression. This meant the new proud parents had to be parted and dad had to find new ways to maintain his bond with his lovely new born little daughter and support his wife.
The treatment and support needed at this time could not be provided in the community because of lack of funding.
Please help me to help those people like my sister in law get the support needed but also WHERE it is needed.......at home within the family unit.
I need to raise a minimum of £2650 and will be doing my best to organise events, raffles and sponsored bits and bobs over the coming months. Any ideas, offers of help and services are warmly welcomed as are, of course, donations! Please do support me...
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Mind - The Mental Health Charity will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
So please sponsor me now!
Many thanks for your support.
