Starting on the 4th July myself and 16 of my amazing Wickes colleagues will start kayaking 160 miles along the River Thames from Cricklade to the Isle of Dogs in London, we will do this over 5 days covering 30+ miles a day and if that doesn’t sound tough enough we will be camping out each night as well, because what could be more fun after 10 hours of paddling but a lovely tent to sleep in (I am not a happy camper). Safe to say this will be the toughest challenge I have ever taken part in, pushing myself both physically and mentally beyond anything I have done before. Why am I doing this you ask?..

I am doing this to raise money for a great charity, in the hope that by putting my physical and mental health on the line you will be willing to donate some of your hard earned cash to a great cause. Mental health has never been more important and YoungMinds do an amazing job providing support and raising awareness for children's mental health.

YoungMinds is the UK's leading charity fighting for a future where all young minds are supported and empowered, whatever the challenges. They are here to make sure children and young people get the best possible mental health support and have the resilience to overcome life's difficulties. The crisis in children and young people's mental health is real and it is urgent. More children and young people than ever before are reaching out for help with their mental health. But for those who take that brave step, help is much too hard to find. YoungMinds are changing this. They're fighting for young people's mental health and providing an outlet for thise in need.

Did you know?
- One in four children show some evidence of mental ill health.
- Half of all mental health problems appear before the age of 14, with one in four enduring mental health conditions present by the age of 24.
- Three in four children with a diagnosable mental health condition do not get access to the support they need.

Find help:
Find out more about what support is available for children and young people.
https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/
If you're a parent worried about your child, visit the YoungMinds parents section.
https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/