Bradfords is launching a 10,000-mile challenge to mark this years Mental Health Awareness Week (11-16 May), encouraging our people to get moving outdoors across the region while raising £10,000 for our partner charity, Mental Health UK.

Organised by the Mental Health Foundation, the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 is Nature & the Environment, with an aim of ensuring everyone is able to share in the natural world and experience the mental health benefits.

Starting on 16 April, the Bradfords team have a month to cover the individual distances they've set themselves, finishing on 16 May, the final day of the awareness week. Collectively, they will aim to reach or exceed their 10,000-mile target and raise at least £10,000 for Mental Health UK in the process.

The idea was suggested by Bradfords team members Dean Gerrans, branch manager at the company's Redruth site and Sam White, who leads the key accounts team in Plympton. Both aim to cover 400 miles each during the course of the challenge.

Dean picks up the story: Mental health is a topic close to my heart. Having taken up cycling during lockdown and found it a perfect way to connect with the stunning coastline of my home county, Cornwall, I felt it was time to give something back. And so, the Westcountry 10,000 was born.

My best friend and army colleague was tragically killed in front of me in Iraq in 2006. This left a lasting impact that I was still struggling with 10 years later. In 2015, finally taking the decision to try to move on and get over the event and its consequences, I worked with local mental health agency, Outlook South West. 5 years on, and I am now able to open up, talk about my past and mental wellbeing. The support I got was invaluable, and so I'm so pleased that with my fellow Bradfords colleagues I can now help others who are perhaps on a similar journey to the one that I was helped through.

Mental health is a subject that Bradfords is only too familiar with: the statistics for mental health in the construction industry are sadly poor. The Westcountry 10,000 is our chance to boost awareness, show people just what there is to be positive and optimistic about outside in the beautiful part of the country that we are fortunate to call home, and to raise valuable funds to support a charity which does such great work in the mental health arena.

We promise to keep you up to date, and to share the great stories that our team tell about the places in the Westcountry (and beyond) they love. Do support us every pound counts!