Celanese 25km April Fundraiser

“As a mother, I can see how difficult it can be, plus going through the system. It’s hard for the teachers and schools may not understanding the problems or the behaviour that may stem for it. Newport Mind does a lot of work with schools and I’m keen to support projects like their BOOST and Piece by Piece services which focus on children’s mental health and wellbeing.”

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On the 9^th April 2022, a team of local fundraisers headed to Windsor to take part in a 25km challenge in aid of Newport Mind! The team, called ‘Make your MIND up’, took on the challenge to support the work of Newport Mind, in particular our Children, Young Person and Families (CYPF) team. They walked and ran the 25km course (or just over 15.5 miles) that saw them go through Windsor, past Slough and along the Thames.

Michelle Barrett decided to take on the challenge at the start of 2022. She initially planned to go it alone, until she started speaking with some of her work colleagues at Celanese. Celanese are an international manufacturing company with a base on Corporation Road, Newport. With the support of her employer and her colleagues, Michelle recruited a total of 10 people to take part in the challenge alongside her!

Michelle told us she is passionate about supporting Newport Mind, and why she wanted the funds raised to go towards the CYPF services. As a mother to two sons, she understands just how difficult it can be for children and young people to cope with mental health, with one of her sons struggling with his mental health whilst at school.

“mental illness can affect anyone, at any time and hit when you least expect it. The last 2 years with the pandemic has affected everyone, but I especially think about how it may affect children, no longer going to school, not getting a break [from home lives], having no one to talk to due to lockdown.”

Alongside the Celanese team our Newport Mind’s CYPF team leader,  Sarah and her husband, also took part in the challenge.