This years Waendal walk will be to raise funds for Young Minds which  is an amazing charity. As each year the walk will be completed with family and friends in fancy dress. So far that's is Victoria, Elliot, Lil Andrew and myself. Though anyone who wishes to join us is welcome.

We are also holding a raffle which will be drawn at the end of the walk. Tickets can be purchased for £1.00 a strip and a list of prizes and companies who have donated prizes can be found at the end of this page.  This page will be updated with a list of who won! :)  Good Luck and Thank you to everyone for your support! :) 

So Why Young Minds? 

We admire the work they do to help reduce the stigma of Mental Health for young people and their families. This charity has been investigating the current help provided by CAMHS and been busy petitioning for better care and support. You can see their link on this page for more information on the services they provide which include an invaluable Parents Helpline!  Sadly too many who need help with depression, anxiety and self harm are not getting the help they need. We are letting our kids down! Young Minds are very passionate about looking at ways to address this.

So we wanted to show my appreciation for their efforts and this is my small attempt to do so in the hope that we can raise funds and draw a little more attention to their charity hence promoting the wonderful work they do.

On a personal level, I (Lynn) have never talked publically about how my father took his own life over twenty years ago. I had many questions about it all at the time but was discouraged from talking about it due to the shame and stigma surrounding Mental Health. So therefore I would avoid answering any questions relating to my dad. Growing up I thought his actions were because he didn't like us or was just an evil person. Later I realised he had an illness and that he loved us the best way he knew how. I've also realised that by this silence I was actually contributing to keeping the stigma and misunderstandings behind mental health issues alive. If more people openly spoke about these things then just maybe things could begin to improve.

When I attended my fathers funeral, I met a volunteer worker who had tried to help my father. He had travelled up from Cornwall in his own time and at cost to himself. At the time still quite shocked, I never thanked him for doing so. He apologised to me that the system had let my father down. It sadly seems that twenty years on the same system is continuing to let people down. Young minds have recognised this and look for ways to support individuals and their families and for such I would like to show my gratitude to them.

If you would like to donate it would be so greatly appreciated.

Ways to donate?

You can do so by debit cards or paypal following the link on this page. Please note: When you are asked to confirm whether to add Gift Aid, please untick the box that says ‘Yes add Gift Aid’. Gift Aid should not be claimed on donations in return for tickets. (However, Gift Aid can be added donations not requiring raffle tickets). Once your donation has gone through, when you see this ‘Im happy to be contacted by’ please tick the box next to my name. Just giving will then share your contact details with me and I can send you a raffle ticket. (Sounds more confusing than it actually is!)

Alternatively text donations can be made by texting JAKE78£1 to 70070 to donate £1 Please feel free to change amount. Again, please remember to leave your name so I know who to give the raffle tickets too.

If you prefer to purchase raffle tickets by cash please let me know by email lynnpeck100@gmail.com or texting 07739 879954

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. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Some areas like Northampton are very lucky  to have organisations like Lowdown who offer amazing support to Young People. Sadly though it seems such help is  a postcode lottery. This needs addressing.

Companies who have donated raffle prizes:

Iron For You Gift Voucher   (http://ironforyou.wix.com/lynn)

Sweet Sensations by Sara Gift Voucher (http://sweetsensations2012.wix.com/sara)

2 x Smoke Shack Vouchers  (2 separate prizes £10 and £20) (http://www.smoke-shack.co.uk/)

Safeinthememory.com (Photoscanning of 500 photos to DVD - worth £100) (www.safeinthememory.com)

Riverside Hub (Off-peak Family Pass)  (http://www.m.riversidehub.com/)

Castle Theatre                Pair of Cinema Tickets    (http://www.thecastle.org.uk/)

Bletchley Park                     Family Admission Ticket   (http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/)

Corina's Milton Keynes Mascot Hire    Voucher for a free costume hire        (http://corinacleaver.wix.com/mascot-hiremk)

Rockingham Castle           Family Admission Ticket  (http://www.rockinghamcastle.com/ )

Sublime Science                  Book and DVD   (http://www.sublimescience.com/ )

Bosworths Garden Centre      Gift Voucher  (http://www.bosworthsgc.co.uk/)

360 Play, Milton Keynes        Gift Voucher  (http://360play.co.uk/miltonkeynes/)

Captain Neil's Toy Chest         Gift Voucher  (http://www.captains-toy-chest.com/ )

Very Vintage                               (https://www.facebook.com/veryvintagewares?fref=ts )

Overstone Spa                          Back Massage Gift Voucher  (http://www.overstonespa.co.uk/ )

Flowers by With Complements          (http://www.flowersbywithcomplements.co.uk/ )

Omnipresence                            Manicure    (http://omnipresencenorthampton.weebly.com/ )

Jamrock Food                             Meal for two     (http://www.jamrockfood.co.uk/ )

Connect Radio                            Goody Bag

Freedom Fitness                          10 separate prizes - Day Pass   (http://freedom-fitness.org.uk/ )

Barbarella Hair                             £30 Gift Voucher   (http://www.barbarellahair.co.uk/ )

My Little Vintage                         Free Place on Course    (http://mlvintage.co.uk/about/ )

MK Dons                                                      Family Admission Pass  (http://www.mkdons.com/ )

CS Photo Studio                     Voucher for either a Vintage Pinup or Boudoir Shoot    (http://www.cs-photo.co.uk/ )   

Kettering Fit 4 Less                                             A months free membership   (http://wwwf4l.com/kettering )  

Tresham Studio                                 £25 Voucher    (http://www.tresham.ac.uk/about-us/tresham-studios/ )

Beans Coffee Stop          Gift Card  (http://beanscoffeestop.co.uk/ )                                                                

Raffle prizes are gratefully received. Thank you to the Wellingborough News Website/Northants Telegraph for helping with this   http://m.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/community/community-news/lynn-is-looking-for-raffle-prizes-1-6669771 

Thankyou! :)