Story
<p>Hi all :)</p>
<p>I want to introduce to you... <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">t</span><span style="color: #ffcc00;">a</span><span style="color: #0000ff;">g</span><span style="color: #008000;">O</span>l<span style="color: #ff0000;">y</span><span style="color: #ffcc00;">m</span><span style="color: #0000ff;">p</span><span style="color: #008000;">i</span>c<span style="color: #ff0000;">s</span></strong>!</p>
<p>It is an event which is about having fun with friends, playing tag rugby & creative olympics activities and afterwards enjoying an awards ceremony party!</p>
<p>AND in doing so we will be raising funds to help create a better life for people with mental distress by donating to a mental health charity called 'Mind'.</p>
<p>The aim is to go for <strong><span style="color: #ffcc00;">GOLD</span></strong>* and raise £1,001!</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">t</span><span style="color: #ffcc00;">a</span><span style="color: #0000ff;">g</span><span style="color: #008000;">O</span>l<span style="color: #ff0000;">y</span><span style="color: #ffcc00;">m</span><span style="color: #0000ff;">p</span><span style="color: #008000;">i</span>c<span style="color: #ff0000;">s </span></strong>is on 20th May, in Hyde Park London, starting at 11:30am. <br>For more details, please visit: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/mindfieldcause">http://www.facebook.com/#!/mindfieldcause</a><br>Please say yes to attending via events page: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/182007021921585/">http://www.facebook.com/events/182007021921585/</a></p>
<p>I want to share with you my story - when I was 23 years old (2008) I woke up one day and something wasn't right, I wasn't myself, I was unhappy and I didn't know why. This kept happening for some time and I was really scared. The thoughts I had were so sad and unlike me. I didn't know what was going on. After a few counselling sessions, I was diagnosed with severe depression and was advised to be on anti-depressants. I suffered from this for 1 and a half years. It was a very tough time of my life with work, CA, new boyfriend, friends and family relationships. Throughout this time, I kept it to myself, my mum, my sister, my boyfriend at the time, and only a few other people knew. This was tough and I was ashamed. I was fortunate to overcome this with loving support, many counselling sessions and medication. I am now genuinely a happy person, am loving life and living it to the fullest.</p>
<p>The reason I am sharing this is because whether we know it or not many people suffer or know someone who suffers from a form of mental distress and I want to create an understanding that it is common and that there is nothing wrong with it. I do not want those suffering to feel like this is something they should hide (like I did) and for them to look forward in hope, that there will again be a feeling of loving life!</p>
<p>I hope you can all make it to <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">t</span><span style="color: #ffcc00;">a</span><span style="color: #0000ff;">g</span><span style="color: #008000;">O</span>l<span style="color: #ff0000;">y</span><span style="color: #ffcc00;">m</span><span style="color: #0000ff;">p</span><span style="color: #008000;">i</span>c<span style="color: #ff0000;">s </span></strong>and if you cannot (you will be missed) I hope you can give as little or as much as you can to a good cause.</p>
<p>Some facts:<br>- 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem at some point in our lives [Mind]<br>- Each week 106 people in the UK will kill themselves [Samaritans]<br>- Each year 31 million people in England will receive a prescription for anti depressants [Mind]<br>- Of the 16 million Australians aged 16-85 years, almost half (45% or 7.3 million) had a lifetime mental disorder, ie a mental disorder at some point in their life. One in five (20% or 3.2 million) Australians had a 12-month mental disorder. [ABS]</p>
<p>So what you waiting for? Get involved and help make a difference and better life for people experiencing mental distress!!!</p>
<p>Love Jade<br>xox</p>
<p>* 'Mind' award a Gold level if raise over £1,000</p>
<p>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</p>
<p>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’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’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p>
<p>So please dig deep and donate now.</p>